site.btaDefence Minister: Security Services Follow Processes to Prevent Any Lateral Manifestation in Bulgaria of Hamas-Israel Conflict

Defence Minister Todor Tagarev Saturday said Bulgaria is taking measures to prevent any lateral manifestation in its territory of supporters of either side to the Hamas-Israel conflict. Talking on Nova TV, he said the security services were closely following developments and both Bulgaria and other European countries had heightened their vigilance. There are no signs of lateral manifestations in Bulgarian territory for the time being.
 
"There is no direct threat to Bulgaria," Tagarev said, adding that it is unlikely for refugee and migrant flows to this country to increase. "The services are monitoring the situation for any increase in refugee flows and migrant pressure on Bulgaria if the conflict escalates", he said. The Armed Forces' presence along the border will be strengthened to support the Interior Ministry if needed.

Tagarev described what is happening in Israel as "a manifestation of large-scale terrorism against a democratic country which wants to live in peace and tranquillity and to develop its economy". "Unfortunately, this is a hybrid attack in its purest form. Hamas is an ostensibly democratically elected force ruling the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and, at the same time, a terrorist organization. The response to such attacks is extremely complex," the Defence Minister said, adding that it was very difficult to predict the outcome of such conflicts.