Draft Strategy of IntMin Points to Real Threat of Terrorist Attack in Bulgaria

In a draft strategy on countering terrorism and radicalisation, the Interior Ministry states that Bulgaria is a potential target of terrorists.

According to the strategy, there is a real threat of a terrorist attack in the country and one of the reasons for this threat is the extreme poverty and social exclusion of a large number of Bulgarian citizens.

Among the other reasons are the active participation of Bulgaria in the international coalition against terrorism, the deployment of Bulgarian military contingents overseas and the wave of illegal migrants.

The threat of a terrorist attack is greater than it had been before the suicide bombing, which took place at Burgas Airport in 2012, Darik radio informs.

The attack against Israeli tourists in Sarafovo has attracted the attention of terrorist organisations, private bTV station reports.

The document emerges as rumours have spread that Bulgarian authorities are looking for two suspected terrorists allegedly linked to Islamic State (IS).

Media informed on Sunday that Bulgarian police had launched a search for 24-year-old Romanian citizen Mimo Popescu and 29-year-old French national of Iranian descent Ezida Elham.

Later on Sunday, the Interior Ministry denied media reports that the two people were being searched for links to IS.

These rumours emerged as the countries of te Balkans have increasingly become the target of terrorist attacks.

Turkey was rocked by a series of armed attacks on Monday, while Macedonian authorities held a specialised anti-terrorist operation on capturing alleged IS members last week.

According to reports, more than 130 Macedonians are fighting on the side of IS, another 156 people from Bosnia and Herzegovina have joined the ranks of...