Explosion hits Bulgarian arms storage site

An explosion triggered a fire at a weapons storage facility in central Bulgaria overnight, authorities and local media reported Saturday (12/09/20026), marking the second incident at a munitions site in the country within weeks.

No injuries were reported after the blaze broke out near the village of Tsareva Livada. Footage broadcast by local media showed flames and smoke rising from the facility.

Gabrovo regional governor Kristina Sidorova said the fire was spreading across the storage area.

"At the moment, the fire is on the territory of the storage base of the factory. It is moving from warehouse to warehouse," she told journalists in the early hours of Saturday.

Facility linked to arms trader Gebrev

Local media reported that the site is operated by Bulgarian arms company EMCO, citing a company official. Another EMCO facility was hit by an explosion last month.

The company is owned by arms trader Emilian Gebrev, who Bulgarian prosecutors have previously said was targeted in attacks allegedly involving Russian operatives.

In 2024, Bulgaria issued arrest warrants for six Russian citizens accused of involvement in explosions at EMCO arms depots between 2011 and 2020. The facilities were storing munitions intended for export to Ukraine and Georgia, according to prosecutors.

Bulgaria previously linked blasts to Russia

Bulgarian prosecutors have said there were reasonable grounds to suspect connections between the depot explosions, an alleged attempt to poison Gebrev in 2015 and explosions at ammunition facilities in the Czech Republic in 2014.

The allegations have drawn heightened attention because of Bulgaria's role in supplying and storing military equipment and ammunition for export.

Moscow has rejected the allegations of Russian involvement.

The cause of Saturday's explosion has not been established, and authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the latest fire.

Source: TRTWORLD