Bulgaria has been accused of shooting a refugee after a new video emerged showing a young Syrian man being fired at on the border with Turkey.
It is the first footage of an asylum seeker being hit with live ammunition on the EU border.
It follows a joint investigation by Sky News, Lighthouse Reports, The Times, Le Monde, ARD Studio Wien, Domani and RFE/RL Bulgaria.
Footage taken on 3 October near the Bulgarian-Turkish border fence shows 19-year-old Abdullah El Rustum fall to the ground after a bullet goes through his hand and into his chest.
He has claimed he was shot by Bulgarian border officials after they caught his group illegally entering the country and pushed them back to Turkey.
“A green vehicle showed up with two Bulgarian officers in it. It came towards us and [they] started shooting in the air. They shot twice in the air and after that, they started shooting right in front of us on the ground,” he said.
“We didn’t get scared still and continued to argue this is not acceptable. ‘Why did you do this?’ After that, they hit me by shooting me directly,”
He added: “The way that he shot at me was a direct way and he intended to kill me.”
Bulgaria is part of the European Union and hopes to get membership of the Schengen area, which allows people to move freely across borders within it.
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The country is often used as a gateway to get to other European countries.
Image: Mr El Rustum claims he was shot by Bulgarian border officials
Women searched in ‘sexual’ manner
Mr El Rustum claims an argument broke out after border officials searched women in the group in a “sexual” manner.
Mobile phone footage shows the group of asylum seekers throwing stones at the border fence from the Turkish side and swearing.
The tension then rises and a loud bang suddenly resounds through the forest.
Image: A Land Rover Discovery can be seen in the mobile phone footage, which the Bulgarian border forces are known to use
The person shooting cannot be clearly seen, but it is known that as well as the refugees, the Bulgarian border forces were on the scene.
As part of the investigation, the footage was sent for analysis to Steven Beck, an audio forensic expert.
He analysed the waveform and spectre of the file and found that they were consistent with a muzzle blast from a small firearm fired in the direction of the person recording.
Image: The audio waveform of the gunshot were consistent with a muzzle blast from a small firearm. Pic: Beck Audio Forensics
Refugees ‘threw stones’
In the video, the person filming is facing towards the Bulgarian border.
Photos provided by the Bulgarian interior ministry show damage they say was caused by the stones thrown by the refugees.
According to its statement, a border policeman of the Sredets Border Police Station was injured by a stone.
Image: Bulgaria released images of damage they say was caused by stones thrown by refugees
The government says that the group burnt objects, and was hostile and aggressive.
It says an investigation was carried out and found “no shots were fired from our side”.
Illegal migration is a massive problem for Bulgaria.
Image: Bulgaria claim a border policeman of the Sredets Border Police Station was injured by a stone thrown
From the start of the year to 27 November, 153,460 people attempted to cross the Bulgarian-Turkish border, more than four times higher than in the period last year, according to official figures.
“Aggression by third-country nationals against GDBP [General Directorate Border Police] officers has increased significantly in recent times”, the Bulgarian interior ministry has claimed, adding that border guards at the fence were attacked with stones and flammable objects, injuring colleagues and damaging property.
According to the statement, two interior ministry officers recently died while trying to stop a bus with illegal migrants in the city of Burgas.
‘Disturbing pattern of threats’
The surge in illegal immigration has also raised concerns about people being unlawfully pushed back.
Earlier this year, the United Nations’ refugee chief warned of a “disturbing pattern of threats, intimidation, violence” on the EU’s central and southeastern borders.
Pushbacks “entail a variety of state measures aimed at forcing refugees and migrants out of their territory while obstructing access to applicable legal and procedural frameworks”, according to the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights.
We travelled to the area near where Mr El Rustum was shot to try to find people crossing to Bulgaria.
It wasn’t long before we saw signs of asylum seekers on the move.
We found patches of ground littered with bottles, energy drinks, clothes and some Syrian snacks, makeshift rest areas before the long journey through the dense forests ahead.
Image: Refugees allegedly threw stones at a Bulgarian Border Force vehicle
‘It’s better than being dead’
We stumbled upon a terrified group of Syrians who told us they were hoping for new futures in Europe as they fled the war at home.
After gaining their trust they told us their stories.
A 15-year-old showed us scars on his side and head that he said he got from being beaten by Bulgarian authorities on a failed crossing. This was his eighth attempt.
“One time we crossed the fence, and the Bulgarian police arrested us and started hitting us”, he said.
“They released dogs on us and then sent us back naked just wearing shorts.”
He claimed he saw someone shot in the leg by Bulgarian authorities two weeks ago after they tried to escape. Others in the group talked of systematic abuse.
A man named Kenan said once he was in a group that was arrested and taken by car to a forest.
“They put us in a hut and undressed us. Then they left us with a dog.”
We asked whether he was frightened of further violence on his next attempt.
“It is better than death. It’s better than death,” he said, referencing the fighting back in Syria.
Image: Kenan said once he was in a group that was arrested and taken by car to a forest
‘More must be done’
And that’s the reality – fleeing war at home, most will risk beatings abroad.
The European Commission told Sky News that all border management must be rooted in respecting human dignity and the principle of non-refoulement.
Any allegations of violence or pushbacks are meant to be investigated by national authorities, according to Anitta Hipper, the EU Commission spokesperson for home affairs.
At a meeting at the end of November, EU home affairs ministers discussed the situation along all migratory routes and the challenges posed.
“In the past years, we have taken a number of measures to jointly address the migratory challenges we face”, Vit Rakusan, the Czech interior minister, representing the EU Council presidency, said.
“However, more can and must be done to find more sustainable solutions and adapt to the ever-evolving situation.”
The Bulgarian government denies the allegations, saying it follows international and domestic laws, adding aggression against border officials is increasing.
“Bulgarian security forces, with the help of Frontex, are on the front line every day to protect all European citizens,” the interior ministry said.
But the accusations are disturbing – threats, violence and intimidation routinely wielded on the edge of Europe.
Additional reporting by Dorothee Thiesing, Europe producer, and Adam Parker, OSINT editor.
Donald Trump has criticised Vladimir Putin and suggested a shift in his stance towards the Russian president after a meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy before the Pope’s funeral.
The Ukrainian president said the one-on-one talks could prove to be “historic” after pictures showed him sitting opposite Mr Trump, around two feet apart, in the large marble hall inside St Peter’s Basilica.
The US president said he doubted his Russian counterpart’s willingness to end the war after leaving Rome after the funeral of Pope Francis at the Vatican.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, he said “there was no reason” for the Russian president “to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days”.
Image: The two leaders held talks before attending the Pope’s funeral
He added: “It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through ‘Banking’ or ‘Secondary Sanctions?’ Too many people are dying!!!”
The meeting between the US and Ukrainian leaders was their first face-to-face encounter since a very public row in the Oval Office in February.
Mr Zelenskyy said he had a good meeting with Mr Trump in which they talked about the defence of the Ukrainian people, a full and unconditional ceasefire, and a durable and lasting peace that would prevent the war restarting.
Other images released by the Ukrainian president’s office show Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron were present for part of the talks, which were described as “positive” by the French presidency.
Mr Zelenskyy‘s spokesman said the meeting lasted for around 15 minutes and he and Mr Trump had agreed to hold further discussions later on Saturday.
Image: The world leaders shared a moment before the service
Image: Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet in the Basilica
But the US president left Rome for Washington on Air Force One soon after the funeral without any other talks having taken place.
The Ukrainian president’s office said there was no second meeting in Rome because of the tight schedule of both leaders, although he had separate discussions with Mr Starmer and Mr Macron.
The French president said in a post on X “Ukraine is ready for an unconditional ceasefire” and that a so-called coalition of the willing, led by the UK and France, would continue working to achieve a lasting peace.
There was applause from some of the other world leaders in attendance at the Vatican when Mr Zelenskyy walked out of St Peter’s Basilica after stopping in front of the pontiff’s coffin to pay his respects.
Image: Donald Trump and the Ukrainian president met for the first time since their Oval Office row. Pic: Reuters
Sir Tony Brenton, the former British ambassador to Russia, said the event presents diplomatic opportunities, including the “biggest possible meeting” between Mr Trump and the Ukrainian leader.
He told Sky News it could mark “an important step” in starting the peace process between Russia and Ukraine.
Professor Father Francesco Giordano told Sky News the meeting is being called “Pope Francis’s miracle” by members of the clergy, adding: “There’s so many things that happened today – it was just overwhelming.”
The bilateral meeting comes after Mr Trump’s peace negotiator Steve Witkoff held talks with Mr Putin at the Kremlin.
They discussed “the possibility of resuming direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine”, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said.
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On an extraordinary day, remarkable pictures on the margins that capture what may be a turning point for the world.
In a corner of St Peter’s Basilica before the funeral of Pope Francis, the leaders of America and Ukraine sit facing each other in two solitary chairs.
They look like confessor and sinner except we cannot tell which one is which.
In another, the Ukrainian president seems to be remonstrating with the US president. This is their first encounter since their infamous bust-up in the Oval Office.
Image: The two leaders held talks before attending the Pope’s funeral
Other pictures show the moment their French and British counterparts introduced the two men. There is a palpable sense of nervousness in the way the leaders engage.
We do not know what the two presidents said in their brief meeting.
But in the mind of the Ukrainian leader will be the knowledge President Trump has this week said America will reward Russia for its unprovoked brutal invasion of his country, under any peace deal.
Mr Trump has presented Ukraine and Russia with a proposal and ultimatum so one-sided it could have been written in the Kremlin.
Kyiv must surrender the land Russia has taken by force, Crimea forever, the rest at least for now. And it must submit to an act of extortion, a proposed deal that would hand over half its mineral wealth effectively to America.
Image: The world leaders shared a moment before the service
Afterwards, Zelenskyy said it had been a good meeting that could turn out to be historic “if we reach results together”.
They had talked, he said, about the defence of Ukraine, a full and unconditional ceasefire and a durable and lasting peace that will prevent a war restarting.
The Trump peace proposal includes only unspecified security guarantees for Ukraine from countries that do not include the US. It rules out any membership of Ukraine.
Ukraine’s allies are watching closely to see if Mr Trump will apply any pressure on Vladimir Putin, let alone punish him for recent bloody attacks on Ukraine.
Or will he simply walk away if the proposal fails, blaming Ukrainian intransigence, however outrageously, before moving onto a rapprochement with Moscow.
If he does, America’s role as guarantor of international security will be seen effectively as over.
This could be the week we see the world order as we have known it since the end of the Second World War buried, as well as a pope.
Tens of thousands of people have packed St Peter’s Square as the funeral of Pope Francis begins.
Royals, world leaders and cardinals joined scores of worshippers at the Vatican, as mourning of the 266th pontiff transcended wealth and social class.
In keeping with Francis’s life as a breaker of tradition, many of the more elaborate and expensive rituals customary for the burial of popes have been foregone in favour of simpler options.
Around 200,000 people are attending the funeral, with around 50,000 packing out St Peter’s Square.
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His body had been lying in state since his death aged 88 on Easter Monday, spending the last few days in St Peter’s Basilica to allow mourners to pay their respects.
The Vatican – where the funeral service is taking place – and Rome – where Francis will be laid to rest – are under heavy security, with a no-fly zone in place overhead.
Image: The coffin of Pope Francis is borne aloft by pallbearers. Pic: Reuters
Image: Members of the clergy gathered to say farewell to their pontiff. Pic: Reuters
Francis’s coffin has been taken out into St Peter’s Square where 220 cardinals and 750 bishops and priests are sitting in rows, waiting to say goodbye to the Bishop of Rome.
A series of readings and prayers are being read before the 50,000 faithful gathered before the basilica, and the coffin will be sprinkled with holy water and incense.
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2:27
Singing rings out at the Vatican
Image: Members of the clergy stand in St Peter’s Square. Pic: Reuters
It began with Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re reading the Penitential Act – a way for the faithful to confess their sinfulness.
This was followed by the Liturgy of the Word, a part in Catholic mass where faithful gather to hear and reflect on the word of God.
Cardinal Re then delivered the homily, speaking about Pope Francis’ life and service to God.
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0:52
Applause breaks out as Zelenskyy arrives
Image: Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re read the homily
The cardinal praised the pontiff as someone who “touched the minds and hearts of people” who was “attentive to the signs of the times”.
He added: “Despite his frailty and suffering towards the end, Pope Francis chose to follow this path of self-giving until the last day of his earthly life.”
He said Francis “was a pope among the people, with an open heart towards everyone”.
Image: Tens of thousands pack St Peter’s Square for the funeral. Pic: AP
Image: Clergy seated during the funeral. Pic: AP
At the end of the mass, the choir will sing in Latin: “May the angels lead you into paradise; may the martyrs come and welcome you and take you into the holy city, the new and eternal Jerusalem.”
After the service, Pope Francis’s body will be taken in procession through the streets of Rome to his final resting place at his favourite church, the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.
Image: Worshippers outside the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. Pic: Reuters
He will be ushered into the basilica – dedicated to the Virgin Mary – by prisoners and migrants, a last reflection of his priorities as pope.
In a break with tradition, the Popeoutlined in his will his request to be buried “in the ground, without particular ornamentation” but simply with the inscription “Franciscus”.