site.btaCaretaker Interior Minister Dechev Meets Bistritsa Mayor After Arson Attack

Caretaker Minister of the Interior Emil Dechev met Bistritsa Mayor Samuil Popov to discuss two incidents involving Popov, including an arson attack earlier this week, the Interior Ministry press service said here on Sunday.

In July 2025, masked people entered the mayor’s office building, and earlier this week Popov’s car and his home’s front door were set on fire.

Dechev expressed support for Popov and his family and said he would advocate for a complete, thorough, and impartial investigation into both cases. He added that he would request information from the relevant units within the Ministry of the Interior on how Popov’s reports were processed and what actions were taken afterward.

Five people were detained during a large-scale police operation in Bistritsa as part of the search for those responsible for the arson attack on Popov’s property. A report of the fire was received at around 1:30am to 1:40am; the mayor’s car was burned out and the front door of the house was also damaged, the Ministry of the Interior said.

“Shortly after 1:30am tonight, I heard what sounded like an explosion. I saw that the car was on fire, and the front door had been set alight as well,” Popov told Nova TV.