Following a series of attacks in the central Sofia neighborhood of Oborishte, urgent actions are being taken to address the issue of mentally ill individuals causing harm to the public, OFFNews reported. The most recent incidents, reported last week, involved attacks primarily targeting women and children. These are just the incidents that have been officially reported to the police, but locals have come together to form a working group aiming to amend laws governing the care of mentally ill individuals, as reported by bTV.

One of the victims was Hristo's wife, who described an unsettling encounter. While dropping off their child at daycare, she was approached by a man on the sidewalk who verbally threatened her with death, saying he would "disembowel" her. Frightened, she jumped onto the road and managed to escape. She immediately called emergency services, but by the time the patrol arrived, the attacker had vanished.

Hristo and his wife later filed a complaint at the district office, providing a description of the attacker. A week later, the police identified the man, arrested him, and took him to a mental institution, where his mental health is being evaluated.

In response to these attacks, the local community has come together, forming a group under the leadership of Oborishte's mayor, Milena Alexieva. The group is seeking to address the gaps in the country's mental health care system, particularly the rapid release of mentally ill detainees. According to Hristo, there are not enough places in mental health institutions, and patients are often released shortly after being admitted, creating a potential danger to the public.

Alexieva has proposed involving experts, including lawyers, psychologists, and psychiatrists, to help draft a proposal for improving the handling of such incidents. The current process of detaining and treating individuals with mental illnesses is seen as slow, with little oversight or prevention once they are released.

Police have confirmed that they are aware of two attackers in the area, one of whom is well-known to authorities and has medical documentation indicating a mental illness. However, less is known about the second individual, who is exhibiting new behaviors. Both men are known to live a nomadic lifestyle, frequently moving around Sofia. At present, they have been admitted for treatment.

The issue has sparked growing concerns among residents of Sofia, leading to discussions on how to improve the care and management of mentally ill individuals to prevent further attacks.