site.btaAttempt on Life of Alexei Petrov in Sofia

Attempt on Life of Alexei Petrov in Sofia

Sofia, October 29 (BTA) - Interior Minister Roumyana Buchvarova Thursday confirmed before the National Assembly that in the morning an RPG was fired at the car of Alexei Petrov. His bodyguard alerted the police at 8:54 am. No one was killed or injured in the attack.

BSP-Left Bulgaria Deputy Floor Leader Atanas Merdjanov requested the hearing of Buchvarova in Parliament.

The shooting did not take place in the immediate vicinity of Petrov's home. Witnesses are currently being questioned.

According to preliminary data provided by the Interior Ministry, the weapon used was a rocket launcher.

Alexei Petrov is a former adviser to the State Agency for National Security. In February 2010, he was arrested along with another 12 persons in a police operation codenamed "Octopus" and was charged with heading an armed organized crime group involved in corruption and racketeering. He was later released on bail. The proceedings continued for four years but were then terminated due to the suspending of a key judge from office. After the adoption of changes in the Criminal Code, the case was transferred to the competence of the Specialized Criminal Court and was launched in September 2015.