site.btaFormer Policeman Barricades Himself in His Home in Sofia

Former Policeman Barricades Himself in His Home in Sofia

Sofia, March 27 (BTA) - An armed man named Peter Kodjeikov barricaded himself in his flat in Sofia's Strelbishte quarter after shooting at his daughter and at policemen, who arrived on the scene later in the day, the Interior Ministry said on Sunday. After a nearly 24-hour drama, 69-year old Kodjeikov, a former policeman,  was persuaded by police psychologists to end his actions and was taken out of the house on a stretcher.

The man was transported to a medical establishment. Before that, a team of the Specialized Unit for Combatting Terrorism managed to enter the house and take Kodjeikov's bed-confined wife out of the building.

The first call on the Single European Emergency Service Number 112 was made by the daughter, who ran away after being confronted by her father. According to neighbours, the man had mental problems and for some time now has been aggressive threatening them with arms.

At the beginning of the negotiations, Kodjeikov shot at policemen and psychologists but did not cause any injuries.

"In the first place, we had to guarantee the life and health of his wife," Interior Ministry Chief Secretary Georgi Kostov said. He explained, that the former policeman returned his lawfully possessed pistol in 1996. This means that he used an illegal weapon.

Kostov stressed that the safety of Kodjeikov's neighbours was guaranteed during the whole operation by the participating police teams.