site.btaOfficers Acted Lawfully in Incident Involving Shot and Wounded Migrant, Border Police Chief Says

Commenting on Friday on the incident involving a Moroccan national who was shot and wounded while attempting to cross the Bulgarian border illegally, Chief Commissioner Anton Zlatanov, Director of the Border Police General Directorate, said he fully supported the actions of the officers involved, as they had acted entirely within the law.

Zlatanov said a patrol team of three Border Police officers from the Special Tactical Actions Unit encountered a group of around 20 migrants shortly after 7:30 p.m. on Thursday near border markers 61 and 62 in the Zvezdets–Malko Tarnovo area. This was the only group that attempted to cross the border that day.

“These are some of our most highly trained and experienced officers,” Zlatanov said. “When they positioned themselves in the area, they detected a group committing an illegal act – attempting to cross the border without authorization. When the group was approached by the officers, they did not comply with orders, scattered, and most fled back into Turkish territory. The Turkish authorities were immediately informed. Four individuals remained on Bulgarian soil and fled in different directions. Three were apprehended, but the fourth turned toward one of the officers and attempted to assault him. The officer issued commands to stop in both Bulgarian and English and fired two warning shots into the air. When the individual continued to advance, a third shot was fired, striking him in the shoulder,” Zlatanov explained.

Zlatanov said the migrant was conscious and responsive. The officers administered first aid on site, dressing the wound. After coordination with a hospital in Burgas, the man was transported to the Burgas district of Kraymorie, where he was handed over to an ambulance crew.

“When someone launches an attack against an officer, the officer has the legal right to make a split-second decision. In this case, I believe the right decision was made,” Zlatanov said. “The first warning shot was fired when the man was about 10 metres away. The third shot, which struck him, was at close range, less than an arm’s length, indicating continued non-compliance and an imminent threat to the officer’s safety,” he further explained.

The three detained individuals identified themselves as Moroccan nationals. The injured man said he was born in 1987. Authorities are working to establish how the group reached the Bulgarian border. Four fast-track pre-trial proceedings have been launched in connection with the case, Zlatanov said.

“If the investigation confirms the facts as described, I intend to formally commend the officer and his team,” Chief Commissioner Zlatanov added.

The incident has been reported to the political and professional leadership of the Ministry of Interior.