Sofia, 23/11/2000 - Reports of the Sega daily reveal that on November 19 a 16-year-old Iraqi boy was shot dead by border police units in an attempt to enter illegally the territory of the country. The victim's name is not announced.

The boy was among a group of 80 Iraqis, 1 Iranian and 9 Palestinians who had entered the territory of Bulgaria by way of Greece near the village of Mandritsa. After reports by locals, a border police unit arrived on the spot to apprehend the illegally passing foreigners, where, according to the Interior Ministry, the foreigners started throwing stones and branches at the policemen. The Ministry claims that the 16-year-old's absence was established during questioning after the group of immigrants was taken in police custody. According to the same reports, the whereabouts of the boy's body were established after conducting a search in an area, pointed by the group of the immigrants, where they themselves had reportedly buried him. The body was exhumed and taken for an autopsy, which established a bullet-wound in the back of the head.

Interior Ministry reports allege that the incident was the result of a bullet shot in the air during the immigrants' attack on the policemen. An investigation has been opened into the case.