The police officers reportedly forced people to sit down by beating and kicking them and light was shone on peoples' eyes with torches
| 31.07.2023 | Near Horgoš | Collective Aid | (46.156302, 19.9655305) | Incidents | Street Violence (state actors) | Serbia | no | yes | yes | no | yes | 7 - 50 | 50 | Syria, Afghanistan, Lebanon | Beating (with batons/hands/other), Kicking, Psychological abuse (e.g. bullying, harassment, verbal insults, defamation), theft of personal belongings, body searched |
The respondent is a Syrian man aged between 18 and 50. He reported a violent incident that took place at an informal living site close to Horgoš, Serbia, on the night of July 31st, 2023. The incident reportedly involved a group of 50 people on the move from Syria, Afghanistan, and Lebanon, including men, women, and very young children.
The respondent reported that two vehicles approached the informal living site around 10 PM. He recognized the vehicles as two black police 4X4 cars that carried what he identified as five police officers. He stated that there was also one foreign officer present, whom he thought to be from the Netherlands. According to the respondent, who had a high level of English proficiency, the police officers were communicating in English among themselves, suggesting the possible involvement of Frontex personnel in the incident.
The officers reportedly forced people to sit down by beating and kicking them, and shining torches into their eyes. The respondent also described that anyone who spoke was kicked further by the officers. He understood that they were using abusive and racist language directed at the group, and taking bets in Euros regarding the countries people might want to head to.
The people in the transit group were then searched and had their cigarettes stolen. No one was taken away from the living site. Two families with children up to 7 years old were present during the event.