site.btaVan Carrying 24 Migrants Intercepted in Bulgaria's Burgas Region

Border police in Bulgaria's Burgas Region intercepted a van with 24 undocumented migrants in the Black Sea resort village of Lozenets on Saturday evening, the Interior Ministry's Regional Directorate said.

The migrants identified themselves as Afghan nationals.

The van, registered in the city of Ruse (on the Danube), attempted to evade a roadside inspection. The driver ignored police signals to stop and drove into the village, where officers acted quickly to halt the vehicle so as to protect residents and tourists. The driver abandoned the van and fled the scene.

The vehicle, moving without control, struck two parked cars, causing minor damage. Medical teams examined the migrants.

Earlier that evening, border police had stopped a second car suspected of serving as a pilot vehicle for the van. Its driver was taken into custody.