site.btaTrial of Sarafovo Airport Bombing Case Fails to Start Yet Again at Specialized Criminal Court

Trial of Sarafovo Airport Bombing Case Fails to Start Yet Again at Specialized Criminal Court

Sofia, March 29 (BTA) - For a second time running after the first try on November 10, 2016, the Specialized Criminal Court on Wednesday was unable to proceed with the case of a suicide terrorist bombing of a bus at Bourgas Sarafovo Airport on July 18, 2012. Part of the injured parties were not duly summoned, and another nearly dozen could not be located in Israel. The court has sent a letter rogatory, but a reply has not yet been received.

In the case, Hassan El Hajj Hassan, 28 (dual Lebanese-Canadian national), and Meliad Farah, 35 (dual Lebanese-Australian national), will be tried in their absence for terrorism, murder of 6 persons (five Israeli holiday-makers and their Bulgarian driver), attempted murder of 35 persons, and damage to property (the destruction of the bus on board of which the bomb exploded and another one that was parked nearby). Mohamad Hassan El Husseini (dual Lebanese-French citizen) has been identified as the suicide bomber.

Part of the victims' families have already retained a lawyer. They have brought civil actions as well. The bus companies that sustained damage did not appear on Wednesday to lay claims.

The next hearing of the case is scheduled for the end of May.