Migrants Dug a Tunnel from Belarus to Lithuania and Attacked Border Guards 0 95

The incident occurred on July 26 at the Kapčiamiestis border post, but the State Border Guard Service of Lithuania had not previously reported the attack.

According to the publication, Lithuanian border guards discovered that a tunnel was being dug under the state border and set up an ambush. When the first violators emerged from the underground passage, four service employees detained them and put handcuffs on them. However, soon about 20 more migrants emerged from the tunnel, attacked the border guards, and forced them to retreat.

As a result, all violators, including those who had already been detained and were in handcuffs, managed to escape back into Belarus.

The border service only reported the discovery of the tunnel but did not disclose information about the attack. Agency representative Lina Laurinaitė stated that the information would be published after receiving permission from the prosecutor's office, which is overseeing the pre-trial investigation.

No one was injured during the incident.

Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius criticized the delay in releasing information. According to him, he learned about the incident only after a government meeting when he was informed by Interior Minister Martinas Katelinas, who, in turn, received this information only on Wednesday.

The head of the government instructed to find out why the public was not timely notified about the incident and whether the border guards acted according to instructions.

At the end of July, Lithuanian border guards discovered an unfinished underground tunnel about 9.5 meters from the border barrier, approximately 11 meters long. It was intended for passage under the patrol road into the territory of Lithuania. Nearby, logs, excavated sand, and buckets were found, although the tunnel exit had not yet been equipped.

After the arrival of the border guards, about 20 young men in civilian clothes fled into Belarus.

A criminal case has been initiated regarding the illegal crossing of the state border, with the investigation being conducted by the Alytus District Prosecutor's Office. After the investigative actions were completed, the tunnel intended for illegal migration was filled in.