According to the State Border Guard Service, border guards from Kalvarija border checkpoint stopped a Mazda 5 with British plates in the village of Salaperaugis on the Marijampolė-Suwalki road.

The car was driven by a British citizen, 42, with all necessary documents. There were also four passengers in the car, including a man, woman and two minors. The border guards found out that the Iraqi family had asked for asylum in Lithuania.

The Iraqis are accommodated at the Foreigners' Registration Center in Pabradė, until their asylum application is processed. Asylum seekers are allowed to leave the center for 24 hours and travel within the territory of Lithuania.

It turns out the family used that right on Tuesday and attempted to leave Lithuania for Western Europe.