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Masked Infiltrators From Belarus Sabotage Latvian Border Surveillance System
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A group of masked individuals crossed from Belarus into Latvia and damaged border surveillance infrastructure before retreating back across the border, Latvian Interior Minister Jānis Dombrava reported on October 6.
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According to Dombrava, the group damaged an electrical distribution panel and stole surveillance cameras. The individuals returned to Belarusian territory before Latvian border guards arrived at the scene.
The incident occurred several hours after at least 20 migrants attempted to cross the Latvia-Belarus border illegally, the minister said.
Dombrava reported that the group of migrants was accompanied by armed, masked individuals who threatened members of Latvia’s National Armed Forces (NBS) and urged the migrants toward Latvian territory. Latvian troops prevented the attempted border crossing.
“Unlike many previous incidents, this time the provocation was particularly demonstrative and aggressive,” Dombrava said.
The minister warned that Belarus should understand that incidents of this kind could lead to more serious consequences.
Latvia’s National Armed Forces warned that the incident underscored the continued threat of deliberate provocations and hybrid activity along the Latvia-Belarus border, with illegal migration being used to pressure Latvia and the external borders of the EU and NATO.
“The NBS will continue to provide support to the State Border Guard along the Latvia–Belarus and Latvia–Russia borders, in order to jointly respond to the challenges posed by illegal migration, provocations, and other hybrid threats,” the Armed Forces said.
The latest incident follows another unusual attempt to cross the Latvia-Belarus border. Latvian border guards previously apprehended 28 people attempting to enter the country illegally through an underground tunnel.
While investigating the crossing, officers searched the surrounding area and discovered a concealed underground passage approximately 20 meters (66 feet) from the border. According to the report, its entrance had been carefully camouflaged with moss.
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