POLICE PREVENT 22 TURKS FROM ILLEGALLY CROSSING BORDER INTO SLOVENIA

ZAGREB, Sept 22 (Hina) - Croatian police on Thursday night prevented 22 Turkish citizens from illegally crossing the border into Slovenia, in which process one police officer received light injuries. Around 22:20 hours last night, the police spotted a 'volkswagen caravella' van and tried to stop it with sound and light signals. The driver of the van, Tomislav F., failed to stop the vehicle and another police patrol was instructed to intercept him. After he was stopped, Tomislav got out of the vehicle, headed toward a police officer and tried to snatch the rifle he was holding. Another police officer came to his colleague's aid and tried to push Tomislav away, but as he failed to do so, he hit him twice on his arm with the back of his rifle, forcing him to get his hands off the rifle. After this, police officers spotted 22 Turkish citizens as they were trying to leave the van unnoticed and run away. The police fired a warning shot, which averted the Turks from their plan. The emigrees were taken to the police station in Jastrebarsko near Zagreb, where police officers in charge of fighting organised crime are conducting an investigation into the case. One police officer was lightly wounded in the scuffle, while Tomislav F. got off with a bruise on his forearm. (hina) jn rml