Only 18 of Bulgaria’s 247 Bomb Shelters Ready for Immediate Use Amid Rising Tensions
Amid rising tensions in the Middle East, authorities have taken a closer look at Bulgaria’s bomb shelters, focusing on their availability and condition
A refugee camp in the district of Vrazhdebna, in the Bulgarian capital Sofia. Photo by Sofia Photo Agency
Bulgarian media have reported a new attack on Syrian refugees amid a rise in racist attacks that, human rights organizations claim, has left migrants living in fear.
Two Syrian refugees have been assaulted by a group of 20 men, armed with knives and chains, bTV private TV channel reported.
The two victims, aged 27 and 35, have suffered a broken nose and knife injures on the head respectively.
The information has not been officially confirmed by the police.
Recent xenophobic attacks include the stabbings of an 18-year-old Malian boy and a 17-year-old Syrian national last month.
On 9 November, a 28-year-old Bulgarian man of Turkish descent, was beaten up after being mistaken for an immigrant.
Amnesty International has alarmed that there has been a „dramatic“ increase in the number of refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants coming into Bulgaria this year, mainly from Syria, prompting several anti-immigrant protests organized by far-right groups.
Customs officers at the “Kapitan Andreevo” checkpoint intercepted a truck carrying cocaine and gold bars valued at a combined total of 1,431,906.60 euros during a thorough inspection on February 22, 2026.
The Sofia District Court has ruled that the initial 24-hour police detention of Varna Mayor Blagomir Kotsev was unlawful. The decision came after an appeal filed by his attorney, Ina Lyulcheva
The Sofia District Prosecutor’s Office has sought international cooperation in the investigation into the deaths linked to the “Petrohan–Okolchitsa” case.
Greek authorities have detained four Bulgarian nationals near the town of Farsala in southern Thessaly on charges of kidnapping, human trafficking, and the exploitation of their fellow citizens
A 37-year-old Syrian citizen has been sentenced to four years in prison following a conviction for committing acts intended to satisfy sexual desire without intercourse and for extorting BGN 50, according to the Sofia District Prosecution Office.
A 39-year-old man has been taken into custody following an alleged sexual assault involving a minor.
Novinite 2025 in Review: A Year That Tested Bulgaria and the World
A Disgraceful Betrayal: Bulgaria's Shameful Entry into Trump's Board of Peace