Bulgaria reports wave of bomb threats targeting institutions and officials

Bulgarian authorities have reported a wave of bomb threats sent via email targeting hundreds of institutions, including schools, airports, and government bodies. Senior Commissioner Vladimir Dimitrov, Director of the Cybercrime Directorate at GDBOP, stated that these threats have been occurring in waves, once or twice a week, for several months.

Among the targets is Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev, who reportedly received a message threatening him with physical harm. Officials believe the primary objective of these communications is to create social chaos and destabilize the state, particularly in the context of upcoming elections.

Investigations reveal that the emails are sent from compromised, hacked servers and computers located across the globe, making tracking difficult. Law enforcement is collaborating with international partners and private IT companies to investigate multiple versions of the motive and origin. Authorities are preparing to meet with educational and state institutions to review protocols for handling such threats.