Pouring water over people’s heads appears in testimonies as an act of mockery – attempting to degrade people and assert police power and ego. It reveals the intentional cruelty of European border control, because although it may not leave physical scars it reinforces the brutality and total control exhibited in incidents of border violence. In some conditions, such as when a person is already physically weak or the weather/water is extremely cold/hot, it can have lasting health impacts on someone.
The respondents explained that one of the officers was trying to break their feet/ankles one by one. They also explained that the officers were laughing and joking, singing along to the sounds emitted by the drone while they were hitting them. The members of the group explained that they were body checked, and that they were forced to get undressed. Later, the officers would give them back only their underwear or in some cases their underwear and their pants. While the officers were bodychecking them, they found their phones and broke them, except the ones they liked, which they decided to keep. Reportedly, they also stole their money (around 330 euros) and their shoes. At some point, one of the members of the group asked for water, as he was very thirsty, and instead of giving him water, the officers poured a bottle of water over his head.
-Respondent in Bihać
