A man was killed during a shootout between Serbian police and migrants near an improvised camp in north-western Serbia, close to the Croatian border, the Serbian Ministry of the Interior reported on Friday.
The incident occurred during a “heightened control of migrant movements” between the town of Sid and the Croatian border, the ministry stated in a press release.
According to the authorities, irregular migrants opened fire on the police during the operation. One migrant was killed and four others were arrested at the scene.
Several individuals fled and are being sought by the authorities.
Every year, tens of thousands of migrants from Asia and Africa pass through the Western Balkans in an attempt to enter Western Europe.
Serbian and Bosnian police have reported the formation of “organised criminal groups” composed of migrants. These groups establish camps in border areas of Serbia and Bosnia and facilitate illegal crossings.
In 2024, Serbia registered nearly 20,000 migrants in its reception centres, marking a decrease of 82% compared to the previous year, according to official figures.
