site.btaPrison Escapee Boris Ivanov Caught Near Town of Letnitsa after Attempting to Hold Woman Hostage

Lovech, North Bulgaria, June 24 (BTA) - Prison escapee Boris Ivanov has been caught near the northern town of Letnitsa, after trying to take an elderly woman hostage, Interior Ministry Chief Secretary Mladen Marinov said at a news conference late on Saturday.

Ivanov was caught earlier on Saturday in a field on the outskirts of Letnitsa. Interior Minister Valentin Radev said that the search operation was joined by special counter-terrorism forces, gendarmerie and police officers, a helicopter and search dogs.

Shortly before Saturday noon, a resident of Letnitsa called the 112 emergency phone number to report seeing Ivanov in an abandoned house. The prison escapee kidnapped an elderly woman, whom he tried to hold hostage. Shots were fired at the wanted man, but no one was injured, Marinov explained. Ivanov left the woman and fled the scene, but was quickly apprehended in a nearby field by police officers, who did not have to use lethal force.

Ivanov was allowed to take up employment at a dairy farm from where he escaped on Thursday. He was incarcerated in an open prison in Lovech, where he was moved for good behaviour just days prior to his escape.

Lovech District Prosecutor Valentin Vulkov explained that Ivanov was serving a 13 year sentence for four crimes, including rape, robbery and another prison escape.
Pretrial proceedings have been initiated. Ivanov, who is currently in custody, will be charged with escaping prison, and could also be charged with kidnapping the elderly woman from Letnitsa.

Commenting the opposition's criticisms regarding the case, Minister Radev warned that such criticism demotivates the police staff.