Bulgarian Chief Cop Doesn't Rule out Dogan Murder Plot

The lead that someone plotted the murder of ethnic Turkish leader Ahmed Dogan cannot be ruled out, according to Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov.

One week ago, at the Eight National Conference of the ethnic Turkish party Movement for Rights and Freedoms, DPS, at the National Palace of Culture in downtown Sofia, Dogan was attacked by a man brandishing a gun and pointing it at his head.

The attacker was arrested on the spot and identified as Oktay Enimehmedov, 25, also an ethnic Turk from the Black Sea city of Burgas. The gun, authorities reported in the aftermath, was a gas pistol, which could not be deemed a murder weapon.

It misfired and delegates at the conference jumped from their seats, pushing Enimehmedov to the ground, severely hitting him and kicking him after he was rendered helpless. The "lynch" stirred mass outrage in Bulgaria and made international headlines, along with the attack.

Tsvetanov said a murder for hire was just one of the possible leads, stressing the investigation was in a very early stage in order to have a definite outcome and findings.

He noted at the time of the attack no one knew the gun was a gas pistol, but the expert report has revealed the nature of the gun and that it could produce light and sound effects and spray technical pepper.

Tsvetanov explained in his interview for the Bulgarian National Television, BNT, that there were no fatalities in Bulgaria from gas pistols, but just very light injuries in some cases, depending on the load used.

He reiterated his statement made in the Parliament Friday that he strongly condemned the delegates of the ethnic Turkish party who thrashed the attacker and their excessive aggression.

The Minister further said the actions of the police guarding the premises and the outside perimeter, and of the private security company Kron, hired by DPS, have been investigated as well, but did not offer details about the conclusions.