Police Boss: Bulgaria Was Platform, Not Target for Terrorists

It cannot be claimed that Bulgaria is a target for international terrorism, although it has been used as its platform, stated Bulgarian Ministry of Interior chief secretary Kalin Georgiev.

Georgiev was commenting recent developments in the investigation of the July 18, 2012 terrorist attack in Burgas, which killed 5 Israeli tourists and their bus driver.

"I wouldn't say that Bulgaria is a targed. Bulgaria is a platform, i.e. it has been used for the perpetration of a terrorist attack which was targeted elsewhere," said Georgiev.

According to the police chief secretary the probe on the Burgas bus bombing is progressing well and has reached a stage in which direct perpetrators and organizers are being ascertained.

"A number of investigative requests for information have been sent to some other countries, such as Australia, Canada and Israel," said Georgiev.

He was resolute that there are absoltely no data suggesting that a Bulgarian national was involved in the preparation of the attack.

Tuesday Bulgarian Minister of Interior Tsvetan Tsvetanov stated that the probe gives the government ground to believe that the military wing of Hezbollah might stand behind the attack.

Two of the perpetrators have been found to be an Australian and a Canadian national who had previously resided in Lebanon and who used documents forged there.