site.btaPolice Arrest 18 Suspected Neo-Nazi Blood & Honour Members in Plovdiv

A total of 18 people affiliated with the international neo-Nazi organization Blood & Honour have been arrested at a private club in Plovdiv, Senior Commissioner Vasil Kostadinov, head of the Plovdiv Regional Directorate of the Interior Ministry, announced at a briefing on Sunday. They were detained at a club located opposite Youth Hill in the city, where various neo-Nazi items were found. At present, there is no evidence linking them to the murder on the hill, committed by minors.

The detainees have been charged under Article 162, Paragraph 1 of the Penal Code, which concerns inciting discrimination, violence, or hatred based on race, nationality, or ethnicity. Some of them have previous criminal records, while others have been convicted of various offenses.

Among those arrested is the man involved in the case concerning the assault of Nepalese nationals, as well as his father and brother. He was released from custody four days ago.

Three girls have also been detained, one of whom is 17 and will turn 18 in September, Kostadinov said. According to him, the club does not operate as a regular establishment, but people have been gathering there periodically for around two years. Saturday night, they were watching the Ludogorets–Botev (Plovdiv) football match. The club's tenant is among those detained.

Kostadinov said that none of those detained was present at the murder on Youth Hill, adding that some people connected to those who were present on the hill have been identified. The group was identified through joint work with the State Agency for National Security.

All of the detainees have been held for 24 hours, although some will be released. Procedural actions are currently being carried out at other locations as well.