site.btaInterior Minister Buchvarova Confirms that "Charlie Hebdo" Attacker's Brother-in-Law Is in Bulgaria

Interior Minister Buchvarova Confirms that "Charlie Hebdo" Attacker's Brother-in-Law Is in Bulgaria

Sofia, August 7 (BTA) - Bulgarian Interior Minister Roumyana Buchvarova Sunday confirmed that Mourad Hamyd, brother-in-law of "Charlie Hebdo" attacker Cherif Kouachi, is in Bulgaria. Buchvarova said that a European Arrest Warrant for Hamyd has been issued.

Hamyd was detained by the authorities because he exhibited a behaviour typical of a foreign fighter, the Interior Minister pointed out. She said that a court procedure is pending. A hearing on the precautionary measure to secure the detainee's appearance will take place on August 9. Buchvarova declined to elaborate on the person's whereabouts and on the court that will hear his case.

Quoting a judicial source, Reuters reported on Sunday that French authorities suspect Hamyd, 20, of attempting to join the ranks of Islamic State. According to the newspaper "Le Journal du Dimanche", the young man, who was being monitored by French security services, was reported missing on July 25 by his family in eastern France. He is being detained in Bulgaria after being turned back at the Turkish border. On July 28, he was accommodated at a centre for illegal immigrants.

Buchvarova, together with her Serbian counterpart Nebojsa Stefanovic, inspected the border between the two countries and toured the border crossing checkpoints of Kalotina and Gradina. They were familiarized on site with the situation at the Bulgarian-Serbian border and checked the work of the border control teams.