(Warsaw) Polish authorities reported on Sunday that a group of migrants trying to cross the border from Belarus attacked Polish policemen with stones, hitting one of them in the helmet.
Police say the incident happened on Saturday evening near Kolonia Klukowicze, a village near the border with Belarus. The impact of the stone was so strong that “the helmet protecting the policeman’s head was damaged,” police said.
In another incident about three hours earlier, around 50 migrants forcibly crossed a border fence near another village, Starzyna. Police said they arrested 22 Iraqi citizens.
These are the latest developments in a tense situation on Poland’s eastern border, which is also the border between the European Union and NATO.
The European Union (EU) accuses the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, of orchestrating a large movement of migrants from the Middle East to the border, in retaliation for the sanctions imposed on his repressive regime.
Belarus denies the claims, but warned this summer it would no longer stop migrants and others seeking entry into the EU.
PHOTO LEONID SCHEGLOV, BELTA VIA AP
Belarusian soldiers set up tents for migrants stranded at the border with Poland on November 13 near Grodno.
Many migrants are now stranded in makeshift camps in freezing weather, as Poland has reinforced its border with 15,000 troops, in addition to border guards and police, to prevent migrants and refugees from entering in the country.
Most are fleeing conflict, poverty or despair in Syria and Iraq and hope to reach Germany or other countries in Western Europe.
The Polish border guard agency said it recorded more than 33,000 illegal attempts to cross its border with Belarus since the start of the year, up from some 120 last year.
Some people are known to make multiple attempts, and German authorities say they have recorded more than 9,000 arrivals of migrants who have passed through Belarus.
Polish police have also arrested people suspected of smuggling illegal migrants. Two Georgian citizens, a Pole and a Syrian were arrested on Saturday.
The Polish Interior Ministry said it was also seeking to dispel rumors among migrants that Poland agreed to transport the migrants to Germany on Monday.
The government said it was sending security alerts in English to the phones of residents in the area: “This is total lie and nonsense! Poland will continue to protect its border with Belarus ”.