Head of investigation service: Assassination attempt on Bulgaria’s Chief Prosecutor was professionally prepared, the unanimous conclusion is that this is a concentrated and targeted explosion

"An Israeli counter-terrorism expert also participated in the inspection of the scene. The unanimous conclusion is that it was a concentrated and targeted explosion," Head of the National investigation Service and Deputy Prosecutor General, Borislav Sarafov, said on May 2.

He said the blast wave and shrapnel were directed from the side of the road to the road.

Assassination attempt against Bulgaria’s Prosecutor General

"We are talking about an extremely large number of fragments, a powerful blast of TNT equivalent and good directionality of the blast. It was a matter of fractions of a second for the blast to be met with the side, wide part of the vehicle, rather than the front right fender and headlight. These split-second moments saved the persons in the vehicle," Borislav Sarafov added.

He clarified that the opinion of all experts is that these metal pellets were left there with the idea to pierce the car's armour and kill those travelling in it.

"The explosion was well prepared, professionally executed, set as an ambush. The purpose of the blast was to kill. The explosive was home made, was not factory made and manufactured by some of our arms factories. This again speaks of the utmost professionalism of the one who prepared it, of at least 3 kilograms of TNT equivalent. All possible scenarios are being checked, it is frivolous to think it was prepared for another vehicle. This blast could have killed civilians. The subject of investigation is whether there was a leak of information. The device was planted to strike at an appropriate moment by electronic blasting.. So far, no second explosive device has been found," Borislav Sarafov added and did not rule out the possibility that the device could have been triggered from a long distance.

According to Sarafov, there was certainly visual contact.

"There are traces that were left, the perpetrator had visual contact with the road and the vehicle and was in control of the situation. They are looking for all the physical evidence, including with tracking dogs. A wide perimeter search is being carried out. It is possible that they are Bulgarians, it is also possible that they are foreigners. Many people are being questioned. It was indeed an attempted murder, there is serious damage to the car," Borislav Sarafov added.