According to reporting by Delfi.lt, Lithuanian border guards discovered an underground tunnel being dug beneath the state border in late July, leading to a confrontation when roughly 20 migrants emerged and forced officers to retreat. State Border Guard Service officials confirmed the tunnel’s discovery but withheld details of the subsequent attack pending clearance from the Alytus district prosecutor’s office.
Border Guards Discover Underground Tunnel
Border guards patrolling the area noticed the subterranean digging operation approximately 9.5 meters away from the physical barrier, according to the State Border Guard Service. The unfinished underground tunnel spanned roughly 11 meters in length and was designed to breach the patrol path deeper into Lithuanian territory. Investigators found logs, excavated sand, and buckets near the site, though the passage lacked a completed exit opening. When the first border violators emerged from the underground passage, four guards detained and handcuffed them.
Migrant Group Overpowers Officers and Retreats
The initial detention was disrupted when approximately 20 additional young men in civilian clothing emerged from the tunnel and attacked the border guards. The assault forced the four officers to fall back, allowing the illegal migrants—including those wearing handcuffs—to escape back into Belarusian territory. According to the State Border Guard Service, neither the border guards nor the migrants sustained injuries during the confrontation.
Prime Minister Criticizes Information Delay
Lithuanian Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičs criticized the delay in releasing information about the attack to the public. Speaking to reporters, Sinkevičs stated that he believed the border guards did their job, but questioned why the public was kept in the dark. The prime minister learned of the incident details only after a government meeting, informed by Interior Minister Martīns Katelīns, who had learned of the event that same Wednesday. Sinkevičs ordered an investigation into why the public disclosure was delayed and whether the border guards acted appropriately.
Official Investigation and Tunnel Demolition
The State Border Guard Service launched a pre-trial investigation into illegal border crossing, overseen by the Alytus district prosecutor’s office. State Border Guard Service spokesperson Lina Laurinaitīte stated that details regarding the attack on officers would be made public as soon as the supervising prosecutors granted permission. Following initial investigative procedures on-site, authorities filled in the illegal migration tunnel to prevent further use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was the underground tunnel located?
According to the State Border Guard Service, the 11-meter-long tunnel was discovered about 9.5 meters away from the physical border barrier, designed to pass underneath the patrol path.
Did anyone get hurt during the confrontation?
No, the State Border Guard Service confirmed that neither the border guards nor the migrants sustained injuries during the incident.
Why was public information about the attack delayed?
Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičs stated that the delay is currently under administrative investigation, with spokesperson Lina Laurinaitīte noting that formal release depends on authorization from the Alytus district prosecutor’s office.
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