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We lay down but they carried on kicking us.

Date & Time 2022-02-10
Location Rabe, Serbia
Reported by Collective Aid
Coordinates 46.12679425, 20.26428223
Pushback from Romania
Pushback to Serbia
Taken to a police station no
Minors involved no
WLTI* involved no
Men involved yes
Age 18 - 21
Group size 4
Countries of origin Syria
Treatment at police station or other place of detention
Overall number of policemen and policewomen involved 2
Violence used beating (with batons/hands/other), kicking, pushing people to the ground, pepper spray, dog attacks
Police involved 2 Romanian officers in military uniform. One was bald and had an earring. No emblems or flags on their uniform. Arrived in a white and unmarked 4x4.

At 6am on 2nd October four people from Syria crossed the border into Romania. Soon after crossing they were approached by a white and unmarked 4×4 car. Two officers reportedly apprehended the group. They were dressed in military camouflage but with no flags or emblems on the uniform. The respondent and the group recognized one of the officers because he has an earring and is bald. The respondent said it is always this officer who beats them and uses his dog to attack people.

Once apprehended by the officers the respondent and the group were reportedly beaten with batons. According to the respondent, the Romanian officers  told the dog to attack the group and then sprayed them with pepper spray on their faces. They were then reportedly pushed to the floor and kicked when lay on the floor with their hands out in front of their heads. The respondent’s lip and nose were left bleeding after being kicked while on the floor. His finger was also left fractured.

Fractured finger by Romanian police

After the violent incident the group was put into the car with the dog and driven 30 minutes to the Romanian-Serbian border crossing where they were reportedly told to cross back to Serbia.