The police identified a number of persons who took an active part in the violent acts within the January 20 protests. These persons are suspected of attacking police officers, forcing a lateral door and facilitating the protesters’ access to the Parliament Building and of also destroying and stealing police equipment and vandalizing the building, IPN reports.
According to the General Police Inspectorate, some of the protesters attacked the police cordon and then forced the door with an iron bar taken from the balustrade, forcing their way into the building. Having an aggressive and very violent behavior, they attacked police officers, stealing and destroying their equipment. As a result, protesters devastated the first floor of the Parliament Building, causing damage of about 750,000 lei.
The violent protesters, aged between 25 and 50, are now investigated. The protest organizers refused to assume responsibility for the illegal acts of the protesters, saying those weren’t their supporters. The police started a criminal case over public disorder. Those to blame face a maximum jail term of eight years.
As a result of the altercations between the police and protesters, 27 policemen sustained injuries. A part of these are in the hospital. Many police officers were dispossessed of shields, protection helmets, anti-has masks and even mobile phones. The damage caused to them was assessed at 275,000 lei.
The police call on the persons who stole aforementioned things or came into possession of these accidentally to yield them voluntarily. They urge to protest peacefully and avoid using violence and breaking the law.
