site.btaInterior Ministry Working on Case of Four Turkish-Registered Waste Trucks Set on Fire in Sofia

The Ministry of Interior is working on a case involving four Turkish-registered waste trucks set on fire in Sofia, the Ministry said on Tuesday. In the early hours of July 29, the capital's 8th District Police Department received a report of burning trucks on Sofia Ring Road. Teams of National Police and the Sofia Fire Safety and Civil Protection Directorate (SFPCD) were dispatched, and the fire was extinguished.

Four Turkish-registered waste collection trucks were affected. They were parked in a car park operated by a company located at the address. The cabins and tyres of the vehicles were burned. There was a security guard on duty at the car park during the night, but he did not hear when the trucks were set on fire.

An inspection was carried out in the presence of an expert from the SFSCPD. A pre-trial investigation was initiated in a timely manner and material evidence was seized.

According to the initial information gathered, the owner of the trucks' company said he personally knew the owners of the car park and had parked his vehicles there on other occasions. He did not report any conflicts or unresolved financial issues, according to the Ministry.

CCTV camera recordings were reviewed. Witnesses were questioned. The work to identify the perpetrators of the crime continues.

The Interior Ministry specified that the case was not included in its newsletter because the latter contains information about more typical crimes detected or committed during the day throughout the country, with an emphasis on cases involving victims or injured parties. When a pre-trial investigation is initiated, no details about the progress of the investigation are disclosed, and information is released in coordination with the competent prosecution office.

Citizens who have information or data related to the investigation can assist by providing it to the Sofia Regional Directorate of the Interior or the prosecution service, the Ministry added.

In September, Democratic Bulgaria Co-chair Ivaylo Mirchev said that a large Turkish company had refused to participate in a tender for Sofia's waste collection. According to him, the reason was that the company's trucks had been set on fire in a guarded car park in the Bulgarian capital.