Police have arrested three people for the attack on an employee at a food establishment in a mall in Sofia. The press center of the Sofia Interior Directorate informed that two of the individuals are minors, and the third is a child, with all three detained for up to 24 hours.
Witnesses say the youths were bothering customers. The injured employee tried to stop them, but after his intervention, a self-inflicted fight ensued. A call was made to the emergency number 112, and emergency medics and police arrived on the scene. They transported the 23-year-old victim to the Military Medical Academy (MMA), where he was examined in the Emergency Department. A concussion was diagnosed, and the victim was hospitalized in the Neurosurgery Clinic.
Eyewitnesses say more than 10 boys chased and assaulted the employee on the mall floors. An employee at the mall narrated:
„Most were minors. They were hitting a youth working in the mall. Then I saw a girl who wanted to shake them off. They started imposing on her too. I managed to get a good look at two of them.“
The beating lasted for about 6 minutes, she added. According to her, it went on for quite a while until the security guards intervened, after which the attackers fled outside. The victim was lying on the ground, covered in blood. She believes he had no way to defend himself because the attackers had boxes and most likely other weapons as well. She pointed out:
„I’m more than just worried. I’m angry. The boy just wanted to do his job like all of us. This could happen to anyone.“
Albena also witnessed the ugly situation. She says: „What I saw was the big commotion coming from the sweet shop in the mall. They were chasing away one of the waiters who went up to make a remark to them because they were spitting at the staff and customers of the place. From the first floor the brawl started. They knocked him down in front of the Information counter and started kicking him in the groin and stomach. They were punching him in the face. They were lunging at customers and other mall employees.“
According to BNR, the majority of the youths were participants in football agitations and fan factions in metropolitan clubs. Necessary measures were taken against them and the cases were reported to the prosecutor’s office even then.
At the moment, the Ministry of Interior has not disclosed further details about the cases, as pre-trial proceedings have been initiated.
This morning, the mother of the injured girl commented about what her daughter had been through: „A gang of boys – about 17 years old – approached my daughter and her friends. At first, it was flirtatious, but at some point, things turned verbally aggressive. They wanted to take an item she was holding and said – “We’ll steal it from you.“
At that moment, an elderly couple intervened, and the situation was diffused for the girl. However, the boys turned aggressive towards the couple as well. According to her daughter, the group of boys consisted of about 7 or 8 individuals.
„I asked her why she didn’t go to security to report what was happening. She replied that there was no one there at the time. What I’ve heard is that security deliberately avoids going to the lower floors during peak hours, when the gangs gather. This happens on Saturdays and Sundays. They don’t want to get involved or get into conflict with them,“, the mother said.
Bozhidar Andreev: I’m done with sports, they mock athletes in our country!
