Explosion hits another weapons site in Bulgaria

An explosion and subsequent fire occurred at a weapons storage site in central Bulgaria near Tsareva Livada overnight, marking the second such incident in recent weeks. No injuries were reported, but the fire spread "from warehouse to warehouse," according to Gabrovo regional governor Kristina Sidorova. Local media identified the site as belonging to EMCO, an arms company run by Emilian Gebrev. Bulgarian prosecutors have previously alleged that Gebrev and his facilities were targets of Russian operatives. In 2024, Bulgaria issued arrest warrants for six Russian citizens accused of involvement in the destruction of EMCO arms depots storing munitions for Ukraine and Georgia between 2011 and 2020. Prosecutors have suggested links between these blasts, Gebrev's attempted poisoning in 2015, and Czech Republic munitions depot explosions in 2014.