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Without asking anything, they started to beat him.

Date & Time 2022-03-08
Location Smrekovac
Reported by No Name Kitchen
Coordinates 45.17617945, 15.7756064
Pushback from Croatia
Pushback to Bosnia
Taken to a police station no
Minors involved no
WLTI* involved no
Men involved yes
Age 30 - 30
Group size 3
Countries of origin Morocco
Treatment at police station or other place of detention
Overall number of policemen and policewomen involved 3
Violence used beating (with batons/hands/other), pushing people to the ground, electric shock, theft of personal belongings
Police involved 3 Croatian officers with black uniforms and balaclavas

The respondent is a 30 year old man from Morocco. On the 3rd August 2022 he attempted to cross the Croatian border along with two friends, also from Morocco.

The respondent and his friends left Polije at 11pm and some hours later they crossed the Croatian border. After a few kilometers, the respondent reported that he and his friend were spotted by three officers. According to the respondent, the officers were wearing black uniforms and balaclavas, which matches the description of Croatian Intervention Police uniform.

According to the respondent, the officers directly ran after them and, without asking anything, they started to beat him.

The respondent described being struck on the back of the head by an officer with a baton. Then, the same officer reportedly used a taser on his legs and feet. After this, the respondent lost balance and fell on the ground. At this point, the officers dropped the weapons and reportedly started beating him with their bare hands on his chest, legs and face. He was staying in a foetal position trying to protect his face. Eventually, the respondent reported that he ended up losing consciousness.

When he woke up, he was alone in the same place where he originally fell. The officers had reportedly taken his phone.

At that point, he explained that he didn’t want to move forward toward Croatia anymore, because he was afraid to come across the police once again.

Despite being very confused, the respondent managed to find his way back to Velika Kladuša in Bosnia without his smartphone, and then back to the squat he had left the day before.