Demerdzhiev sees link between bomb threats and revelations about Peevski

The interior ministry confirmed to BNT that last week's wave of emailed bomb threats included one against Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev, claiming that an explosive device had been fitted to his car. Speaking on bTV's "120 Minutes", Demerdzhiev said he was not afraid and that the threats would not change his decisions. His security detail has not been reinforced because there is no reason to do so, he said.

The minister described an "extremely unpleasant pattern": threats arrive whenever public attention is focused on something important. He recalled speaking in parliament about flights taken by Delyan Peevski and said new revelations had been followed by a wave of threats. He could not establish that Peevski was behind the threats against him, but there was "definitely a connection". Someone, he said, has an interest in shifting the focus away from serious issues. Demerdzhiev added that evidence-gathering on the alleged siphoning of public money through procurement continues, with the crash-barrier case only one of the sectors involved. Some material has been sent to prosecutors. Identifying those behind the threats is technically difficult, but every effort will be made, he said.