Kiril Rashkov, the Bulgarian Roma mafia boss whose clan triggered ethnic tensions across the country, considered escaping to the neighboring Serbia before he was arrested, it was revealed Friday.

Rashkov's lawyer, Daniel Angelov, has claimed that his client "wanted to feel safe" and "save his life", but not to escape from justice. He felt in danger in the aftermath of the Katunitsa clashes, the lawyer explained.

Rashkov aka Tsar Kiro remains in custody, it has been announced.

The self-proclaimed Roma tsar was arrested late on Tuesday. He has been charged over murder threats and faces six years in prison if found guilty.

The September 23 murder of Bulgarian youngster, Angel Petrov, 19, who was deliberately run over by a minivan, which, according to witnesses, was driven by an associate of Rashkov, led to massive protests of the ethnic Bulgarians in the village of Katunitsa, where Rashkov's mansions are located. They culminated Saturday night into the burning of Rashkov's properties by football club fans from Plovdiv, which is near to Katunitsa, and by football club fans from the capital Sofia and the southern city of Stara Zagora.

The following several days saw protests in many major Bulgarian cities, including the capital Sofia. Nearly 350 people in total have been arrested by the police after the three nights of rallies that unfortunately involved what has been perceived as ethnic hatred. Many in Bulgaria suspect that right-wing Ataka (Attack) leader Volen Siderov is behind these rallies.

Bulgarian authorities have frozen Rashkov's assets and property while he is investigated on tax evasion charges, the revenue agency has confirmed. Rashkov has been arrested.

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