Bulgarian Police Officials with Contrary Reports on Refugee Assault

A young Syrian refugee is in the emergency hospital in the Bulgarian capital after an overnight attack on him, file photo

Bulgaria's Minister of Interior Tsvetlin Yovchev and the Chief Secretary of the Interior Svetlozar Lazarov offered contradicting versions of the incident with the Syrian refugee stabbed in Sofia.

In an interview for Nova TV, Yovchev explained that 17 -year-old Omar Yusuf received a cut because he was involved in a brawl, not during an attack on him.

"We cannot talk about an attack. There was rather a fight and as result he suffered a cut. There is no danger to his life. So let's not rush to conclusions at this time. We will give wrong signals to the public," said the Minister.

Speaking for bTV, however, the Secretary of the Interior said that the young man went out to buy food and was attacked by two individuals who kicked him and hit him with fists. Lazarov added that it is unclear how Omar received the wound.

"It's hard to imagine that a 17-year-old boy, living in the refugee shelter with his mother, who has survived a heart attack and who is watching a small child, will start to provoke anyone, provided that he has just arrived and does not even know the area," he said.

According to Lazarov, Omar was frightened and could not provide adequate information.

The emergency "Pirogov" hospital in Sofia informed the wound was not serious and the young man will stay in the hospital until his stitches are removed.

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