Bulgarian Police Denies Reports of Surrender in Hostage Crisis

The sealed-off area around a bank in downtown Sliven where hostages were held overnight. Photo by DarikNews

The Bulgarian Interior Ministry firmly denies reports the man who was seen on TV footage being taken out of the building of the Investbank branch in Sliven is the person who held hostages there overnight.

The footage was aired at noon Thursday by the Bulgarian National Television, BNT.

Meanwhile it was revealed the name of the man, who staged an unprecedented for Bulgaria bank holdup and hostage crisis, is Stefan Petrov, not Hristo, as Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, announced in the Parliament earlier.

Petrov is 28; he lives in his native village of Korten, near the southern town of Nova Zagora. He became orphan in 2006; never showed any signs of being disturbed or of erratic behavior, and works as security guard in a private business in Nova Zagora. Unofficial reports say he failed to show up for work Wednesday evening.

Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry issued a statement to the media saying that all comments and the dissemination of unconfirmed information about the incident interfere with their work; causing additional pressure complicates the actions of the professionals, and appeal to reporters to show understanding, responsibility and patience until the conclusion of the case.

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