19 Suspects Detained Over Shooting in Bulgaria’s Sunny Beach

A total of nineteen suspects have been detained in connection with the shooting in Bulgaria’s largest Black Sea resort Sunny Beach on Wednesday evening which left one man killed and two other heavily injured. One has been charged with intentional murder.

The shooting targeted local drug lord Dimitar Zhelyazkov, known by his nickname Ochite (The Eyes), and people from his entourage. Zhelyazkov and one of his bodyguards were heavily injured, while another was killed.

Zhelyazkov has been admitted to hospital in critical condition after five bullets hit him in the chest, stomach, bladder and thighs. None of his wounds is fatal, but doctors are struggling with stopping the blood loss.

The shooting occurred when Zhelyazkov and his entourage numbering between thirty and forty people arrived near a popular disco. A group of around ten people, who were already at the club, opened fire at Zhelyazkov’s group.

Zhelyazkov and his men were reportedly armed with knives and axes and were wearing body armour.

Luckily none of the ordinary visitors of the club was injured.

The police claims that the shooting took place after the two groups quarreled over a parking lot. However unofficial reports suggest that it occurred due to conflict between rival drug rings.

Throughout the years, Zhelyazkov has been charged with heading organised crime group, distribution of drugs on the Black Sea coast, kidnapping, armed robbery.

He spent five years in prison after admitting he headed an organised crime group.

In 2001, a bomb planted in Zhelyazkov’s car claimed the lives of his wife, brother and bodyguard.

At a briefing in Burgas on Thursday, Interior Minister Rumyana Bachvarova assured that security measures in the resort will be heightened following the incident.

The interior ministry will exercise stricter control in the area of the resort by conducting series of specialized police operations.

Bachvarova said that in order to have successful and reliable investigation, police expects assistance of people with information.

According to preliminary information, around thirty people were involved in the shooting.

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