EU-Belarus border situation: some 'migrants' broke into Poland, Lithuanian border guards heard gunfire

Also in Poland, migrants who ran across from Lithuania were caught.

Tensions remain high on the border between Belarus and EU states: 'migrants' from the Middle East almost succeeded in breaking through Poland's border, while Lithuanian border guards report hearing gunshots.

Breakthrough at Poland's border

Polish border service said on Sunday, December 12, that a group of 'migrants' attempted to break through the Polish-Belarusian border. 

The incident occurred near the village of Czeremcha in Podlaskie Voivodeship.

"Today, in the section guarded by the border post in Czeremcha, a group of 55 aggressive people tried to break through the border. One serviceman was struck in the face with a stone and was given first aid on the spot," said a statement from Polish border guards.

According to border service spokeswoman Anna Michalska, the group of migrants managed to cross the border, but all were then detained and taken back to the border.

She also said that yesterday seven citizens of Iraq were detained after crossing the Polish-Lithuanian border, which may mean they had previously passed unnoticed through the Lithuanian-Belarusian border.

Gunfire near Lithuania

Over the past day, Lithuanian border guards did not let 8 migrants into Lithuania who tried to cross the border in prohibited areas. 

On Saturday, 20 shots were fired from the Belarusian side in the Lazdijai district. 

Shots were also fired twice in the Šalčininkai district on the Lithuania-Belarus border.

This year, almost 4.2 thousand migrants illegally entered Lithuania, most of them crossing the border before August. A state of emergency remains in effect on the Lithuania-Belarus border.

Since early August, when border guards received the right to refuse entry to foreigners from Belarus, 7,955 people have not been admitted to Lithuania.