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Bulgaria is stepping up preventive security at some locations in response to the recent events in the Middle East, caretaker Interior Minister Atanas Ilkov announced during a briefing on Wednesday (2 October).
Additional security measures have been taken with regard to the diplomatic mission of the State of Israel and other sites related to the diplomatic mission to ensure the security of staff and the areas where they are located, he said.
“We have increased security measures at other locations, but this is dictated by the preventive element”, he explained. Police presence has also been increased at strategic locations in Sofia, with the minister announcing more presence at other locations if necessary in the future.
While Ilkov acknowledged that the government has no data from the Bulgarian services or its foreign partners regarding terrorist threats linked to the recent escalation in the Middle East, he said, "we have taken our routine and preventive measures so that we are ready to react should the need arise," the minister stressed.
Meanwhile, caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev convened the Security Council on Wednesday afternoon because of the recent escalations in the region. The Consultative Council for National Security, convened by President Rumen Radev, will meet to discuss the same topic but on Friday.
A full-scale war in the Middle East would be the worst-case scenario, caretaker Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov told journalists at the Council of Ministers.
"We have to take into account in an escalation that refugee flows will increase. Moreover, terrorist actions by Islamist organisations in European countries are possible. We should take measures and check our security at home," Zapryanov added.
Nearly 170 Bulgarians and their family members were evacuated from Lebanon on two government-organised evacuation flights earlier this week. The Interior Ministry is offering them 200 places in holiday resorts.
Bulgaria reiterated its call for de-escalation in the region on Wednesday, with the Foreign Ministry condemning Iran's ongoing missile strikes against Israel.
[Edited by Daniel Eck]
