Romanian police conduct 21 raids across 11 counties over Bucharest protest violence

Coordinated searches across twelve jurisdictions

Bucharest police officers carried out 21 home searches and executed 21 bench warrants on the morning of 7 October across the Romanian capital and 11 distinct counties. The coordinated operation targeted individuals in Bucharest as well as Giurgiu, Călărași, Teleorman, Argeș, Brăila, Maramureș, Galați, Sălaj, Mureș, Brașov, and Iași. The action was executed by investigators from the Violent Crime Groups Service and the Central Criminal Investigation Service within the General Police Directorate of Bucharest. Regional support came from county police inspectorates in Teleorman, Argeș, Brăila, Maramureș, Galați, Sălaj, Mureș, Brașov, and Iași, together with specialized tactical intervention squads from the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Gendarmerie. The entire operation proceeded under the legal coordination and oversight of prosecutors from the Prosecutor's Office attached to the Bucharest Tribunal.

Violent clashes during the September protest

The criminal probe investigates serious incidents that unfolded during the 15 September demonstration held by livestock farmers and shepherds in Bucharest's Piața Victoriei outside the government building. According to case investigators, a subset of participants turned aggressive and hurled dangerous objects toward security cordons, including street curbstones, glass bottles, portable metal barriers, and pyrotechnic materials. In addition to throwing projectiles, aggressive demonstrators engaged in direct physical assaults against law enforcement personnel, hitting multiple gendarmes using their fists, feet, and wooden clubs. Protesters also damaged a specialized gendarmerie vehicle and vandalized various other pieces of equipment belonging to the intervention forces.

The Bucharest Police detailed the initial findings and the threats directed at law enforcement officers during the square demonstration.

On 15 September 2026, in the context of the protest held in Piața Victoriei, some of the participants committed acts of violence and uttered threats against the gendarmes performing their service duties.

Physical attacks on journalists and criminal charges

Law enforcement officials confirmed that the violence in Piața Victoriei was not confined to collisions with the gendarmerie. Case documents record that violent demonstrators targeted media crews reporting on the public gathering, carrying out physical assaults against two employees of a news media organization who were carrying out their reporting duties on location. The ongoing penal proceedings cover multiple criminal offenses under Romanian law, including public incitement, assault on public officials, disturbance of public order and tranquility, destruction of property, and physical battery or other violent acts.

The Bucharest Police confirmed the specific scope of the probe regarding violence against journalists at the scene.

At the same time, some of the perpetrators exerted physical violence against two employees of a media trust, who were at the scene performing their job duties.

Preventive custody measures and judicial hearings

Prior to Wednesday's enforcement actions, judicial authorities had already issued a total of 38 preventive measures against suspects identified in connection with the September demonstration. Judicial rulings placed 28 suspects in pre-trial detention for 30-day periods, ordered six individuals into 30-day home arrest, and placed four other suspects under judicial control supervision. Suspects taken into custody during the 21 searches on 7 October are being brought directly to the Beldiman police headquarters in Bucharest. Following initial administrative booking at Beldiman, each individual will be transferred sequentially to the Prosecutor's Office attached to the Bucharest Tribunal for formal interrogation and determination of further preventive measures.