10 Poles and 4 Czechs Defect in W. Germany
Ten Poles, including a teen-ager taking part in at a weightlifting meet, and four Czechoslavaks defected in West Germany over the weekend, police said Monday.
Kristof Piorczynski asked for asylum Sunday after participating in a weightlifting competition for 16- to 20-year-olds in the southwestern town of Donaueschingen, police officials said.
Nine Polish tourists, ranging in age from 10 to 54, left their tour group in Munich over the weekend and asked for asylum in West Germany, Bavarian state police said.
In addition, police said, three Czechs aged 20 to 56 ditched their tour groups during a trip through Bavaria, and a 56-year-old Czech asked for asylum while visiting Munich.
More to Read
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.