The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org. February 20, 2023 18 Afghan Refugees Found Dead Inside Abandoned Truck in Bulgaria ---------------------------------------------------------------- In Bulgaria, 18 Afghan refugees were found dead Friday inside an abandoned truck near the capital Sofia. Six Bulgarians have been indicted, including the alleged leader of a smuggling group. Thirty-four others were rescued, including five children, and remain hospitalized for carbon monoxide poisoning from inhaling exhaust fumes. The refugees were headed to Western Europe. Bulgaria's harsh immigration policies are forcing people to rely on more dangerous methods, and refugees have accused Bulgarian security forces of abuse. .