Both minors expressed their intention to seek asylum in Croatia, but the police officers rejected their request

Date & Time 2018-06-16

Location 1 km away from Zagreb, Croatia

Reported by No Name Kitchen

Coordinates 45.72113084, 16.07530269

Pushback from Croatia

Pushback to Bosnia

Taken to a police station yes

Minors involved yes

WLTI* involved no

Men involved no

Age 17 - 17

Group size 2

Countries of origin Syria

Treatment at police station or other place of detention

Overall number of policemen and policewomen involved 5

Violence used destruction of personal belongings, theft of personal belongings

Police involved 5 Croatian border police officers (wearing uniforms), 1 police car (van)

The respondent and his friend crossed the border from Bosnia (Velika Kladusa) to Croatia and were both caught by the Croatian border police, one km from Zagreb. The police took both minors to a nearby police station. The respondent and his friend showed to the police officers their Syrian passports, and the officers were thus aware of their age and nationality.

Both minors expressed their intention to seek asylum in Croatia, but the police officers rejected their request. The respondent also stressed that he had a problem with his leg, after the 30km walk, which the police officers ignored and instead they drove the two minors to the Bosnian border, to deport them back to Bosnia. When the police delivered the two minors at the border, they took their phone, placed them on the ground, and drove over them, destroying them.