Crime & Justice
Bulgaria investigates fire at weapons site that owner calls sabotage
September 12, 2026 at 08:28 PM
Coverage
2 reports · 1 in Arabic, 1 in English · over 9 hours
Bulgaria is investigating an overnight fire that set off explosions at an EMCO ammunition warehouse, the firm's second such blaze in weeks, which its owner blames on sabotage.
- Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev said authorities "are not ruling out outside interference" in the fire near Gorni Varpishta, in which no injuries were reported.
- EMCO, whose weapons are supplied to Ukraine, said the fire was sabotage and that human error was "completely ruled out," noting the site was inspected 20 days ago.
- The blaze was the second at an EMCO facility in weeks, following explosions last month at another of the company's warehouses in the area.
- Bulgarian prosecutors have alleged EMCO's owner, arms dealer Emilian Gebrev, was targeted by Russian agents in a 2015 poisoning attempt.