Migrants in Horgos (BETAPHOTO/Ministy of Internal Affairs, Republic of Serbia)
The incidents and armed clashes in Serbia’s north, particularly in the Subotica area, exclusively involve the country’s migrant population, or, more precisely, migrant criminal groups, Ivica Ivkovic, the chief of Serbia’s Police Directorate, stated on Sept. 13.
Speaking for the RTS public service, Ivkovic explained how, on Sept. 12 alone, police discovered a total of 371 irregular migrants along with three automatic rifles and one semiautomatic rifle in Subotica, Kikinda and Sombor. Simultaneous operations were conducted in Belgrade, Sabac and Pirot.
Of the migrants apprehended, 619 were transferred to migrant reception centers.
“The fact that we discovered weapons does not mean that all migrants are dangerous. [The arms belong to] groups of smugglers, whose main goal is to move individuals who have come to Serbia [further on] to an EU country,” Ivkovic explained.
The police chief added that no incidents took place during the raids i.e. that none of the migrants attempted to use said weapons or attack the police.
He further said that the majority of migrants not housed in reception centers are hiding in the 6,800-hectare forest near Subotica, along the Hungarian border.
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