Van carrying Syrians rams into police car in Bulgaria

SOFIA: A van smuggling 12 Syrian migrants crashed into a police car near the Bulgarian capital after the driver fled a police checkpoint, injuring an officer and some passengers.

The EU member has seen a sharp increase in the number of migrants trying to cross its border to move farther north to the Schengen visa-free zone in western Europe.

The driver of the minibus refused to stop at a checkpoint south of Sofia and sped away. He then crashed into a police car dispatched to stop it.

A 51-year-old policeman and a 20-year-old Syrian suffered head injuries, doctors at the Saint Anne’s Hospital in Sofia said.

Three other passengers were hospitalised with minor injuries, while the driver – a Bulgarian with a prior police record who drove without a licence – was also injured.

Interior ministry secretary general Petar Todorov said he would resign, demanding tougher punishments for people smugglers, many of who currently get away with mere fines.