Five people wounded in collision between IMRO and Jehovah's Witnesses

Alert DateApril 17, 2011 Country: Bulgaria Address: Burgas, Bulgaria General Type: Racist violence Racism and discrimination phenomena: Extremism - organised Racist Violence, Religious intolerance
Groups affected / Interested in: Religious minorities Key socio-economic/institutional areas: Religion Hate speech/Racist Discourse Medium: Other
Victims Data
Victims Nationality/Ethnic Origin Bulgarian
Victims Gender N/A
Victims Age N/A
Victims Number 5
Fatalities - deaths N/A
Perpetrators Data
Perpetrators Nationality/Ethnic Origin Bulgarian
Perpetrator Gender Male
Perpetrator Age N/A
Perpetrators Number 10
Extremist/Organised Group Violence Yes

On April 17, 2011, the nationalist-oriented party IMRO (Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization) organised an unauthorised protest against the followers of Jehovah's Witnesses in the town of Burgas. The protest turned to mob violence when a group of IMRO supporters carrying party's flags sieged the place of worship where a group of Jehovah's Witnesses was holding a meeting, attacked them with stones and injured at least five of the people gathered inside. The police came to disperse the crowd and arrested ten of the IMRO supporters. The nationalist movement recruited supporters of the Chernomorets and Neftohimik football teams.

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