2012 Burgas bus bombing

Suicide attack against Israeli civilians at the Burgas Airport in Bulgaria yes yes November 2019 2012 Burgas bus bombing the Israeli–Lebanese conflict Burgas airport.jpg Location of the bombing (near Burgas Airport) Bulgaria center Burgas Airport is in eastern Bulgaria Burgas Airport The location of Burgas Airport in Bulgaria Airplane silhouette.svg Burgas Airport, Burgas, Bulgaria UTC+3 Israeli-operated buses 42 34 00 N 27 31 13 E region:BG_type:event inline,title 17:23 pm y 2012 07 18 Suicide bombing 32 civilians 6 civilians (+1 bomber) Mohamad Hassan El-HusseiniBurgas attack: Bulgaria names anti-Israeli bomber BBC News 18 July 2014 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-28370527 Unknown explosive device The 2012 Burgas bus bombing was a terrorist7 reported killed in terror attack against Israelis in Bulgaria https://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/7-reported-killed-in-terror-attack-against-israelis-in-bulgaria-1.452013 https://web.archive.org/web/20120718224920/http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/7-reported-killed-in-terror-attack-against-israelis-in-bulgaria-1.452013 dead 18 July 2012 Haaretz 20 July 2012 Barak Ravid Zohar Blumenkrantz Natasha Mozgovaya, Haaretz attack carried out by a suicide bomber on a passenger bus transporting Israeli tourists at the Burgas Airport in Burgas, Bulgaria,http://www.nrg.co.il/online/1/ART2/387/813.html?hp=1&cat=666&loc=1 19 July 2012 19 July 2012 Ynet! he:משרד החוץ: מניין ההרוגים ירד לשבעה, בהם 6 ישראלים he on 18 July 2012. The bus was carrying 42 Israelis, mainly youths,http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/explosion-targets-bus-young-israeli-tourists-bulgaria-article-1.1116853 Israel blames Iran for deadly attack on bus of Israeli youth visiting Bulgaria New York Daily 20 July 2012 from the airport to their hotels, after arriving on a flight from Tel Aviv. The explosion killed the Bulgarian bus driver and five Israelishttp://www.e-79.com/news-55311.html Атентатът в Бургас почерни и Юруково 20 July 2012 21 July 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120721190053/http://e-79.com/news-55311.html dead and injured 32 Israelis, resulting in international condemnation of the bombing. In February 2013, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, the Bulgarian Interior Minister, said there was "well-grounded" evidence that Hezbollah was behind the attack. Tsvetanov stated that the two suspects had Canadian and Australian passports and lived in Lebanon.Hezbollah suspected in Bulgaria bus bombing http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2013/02/20132515350158754.html 6 February 2013 Al Jazeera 5 February 2013 According to the Europol, forensic evidence and intelligence sources all point to Hezbollah's involvement in the blast. Both Iran and Hezbollah have denied any involvement. On 5 June 2013, new Bulgarian Foreign Affairs Minister Kristian Vigenin stated that: "There is no conclusive evidence for the implication of Hezbollah in the July 2012 bombing in Burgas. The authorities continue to gather evidence."Bulgaria: No Conclusive Hezbollah Link for Burgas Bombing – Novinite.com – Sofia News Agency However, two weeks later a Bulgarian representative to the European Union revealed that investigators discovered new evidence that implicates Hezbollah operatives were connected to the terrorist attacks.New evidence on Hezbollah Burgas The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/bulgaria-reveals-new-evidence-on-hezbollah-burgas-link/ https://web.archive.org/web/20130628015402/https://www.timesofisrael.com/bulgaria-reveals-new-evidence-on-hezbollah-burgas-link/ 28 June 2013 live 21 June 2013 dmy Investigators found that the forged documents used by the perpetrators of the attack were facilitated by a man with ties to Hezbollah. In July 2013, the newly appointed Bulgarian Interior Minister Tsvetlin Yovchev stated: "there are clear signs that say Hezbollah is behind the Burgas bombing."Hezbollah behind bombings On 25 July 2013, the Bulgarian Interior Ministry released photographs of two Hezbollah operatives suspected in the bombing: Australian citizen Malid Farah (also known as "Hussein Hussein"), and Canadian citizen Hassan al-Haj.Photos of Burgas attack suspects released – Ynetnews (25 July 2013) In 2013, and partly in response to the bombing, the EU unanimously voted to list the military branch of Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/23/world/middleeast/european-union-adds-hezbollah-wing-to-terror-list.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 European Union Adds Military Wing of Hezbollah to List of Terrorist Organizations James Kanter Jodi Rudoren 22 July 2013 The New York Times 6 August 2017 On 18 July 2014, Bulgaria announced that they identified the bomber as a dual Lebanese-French citizen named Mohamad Hassan El-Husseini. Over 12 years after the attack, in April 2025, following a negotiation with Lebanon's former head of intelligence Abbas Ibrahim, the Bulgarian authorities released the bomber's remains for burial in Lebanon. Although Hezbollah never formally claimed responsibility for the attack, El-Husseini was buried in a southern Beirut cemetery designated for the organization's fallen fighters.Aljoud Sally Abou Lebanese suicide bomber who killed 5 Israelis in Bulgaria is buried at Hezbollah cemetery https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-bulgaria-2012-attack-hezbollah-8ec05a4dff7fd22af7821c27f8ea37bb AP News 12 April 2025 en Attack Six civilians and the suicide bomber were killed and at least 32 were injured in an explosion on an Israeli-operated tour bus at the Burgas Airport in the Black Sea city of Burgas.Israelis killed in Bulgaria bus terror attack, minister says https://edition.cnn.com/2012/07/18/world/europe/bulgaria-israel-blast/index.html?hpt=hp_t2 18 July 2012 CNN 18 July 2012 In addition, two other buses were damaged in the blast.https://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=277989 7 dead in bombing of Israeli bus in Burgas The Jerusalem Post 18 July 2012 18 July 2012 Katz, Yaakov Keinon, Herb Lappin, YaakovBulgaria says Israelis killed by suicide attacker by Veselin Toshkov Associated Press 19 July 2012 Bulgarian leaders, including President Rosen Plevneliev, rushed to the site. The Foreign Ministry said authorities believed that the blast was a terrorist attack.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/18/bulgaria-bus-blast-israeli-tourists_n_1683204.html Bulgaria Bus Blast: 6 Dead, Dozens Wounded As Explosion Hits Bus Carrying Young Israeli Tourists Huffington Post 18 July 2012 Associated Press 18 July 2012 Toshkov, Veselin Heller, Aron According to the initial reports of Bulgarian authorities, the blast was caused by a bomb in a luggage compartment. However, it was later argued by a Bulgarian official that the blast was probably carried out by a male suicide bomber with fake US documents.Bulgaria blast: 'Suicide bomber' killed Israelis https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18897772 19 July 2012 BBC 19 July 2012 An 11-year-old child and two pregnant women were among the injured,http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4257492,00.html 7 killed in terror attack on Israeli tourists in Bulgaria Yedioth Ahronot 18 July 2012 18 July 2012 Somfalvi, Attila while another pregnant woman was killed.44-Year-Old Pregnant Woman Was Killed in Burgas Terror Attack after Years of Struggling With Infertility http://www.algemeiner.com/2012/07/19/42-year-old-pregnant-woman-was-killed-in-burgas-terror-attack-after-years-of-struggling-with-infertility/ 19 July 2012 21 July 2012 The Algemeiner Mustafa Kyosev, the Bulgarian bus driver, was also killed at the age of 36.https://www.timesofisrael.com/muslim-bus-driver-killed-in-burgas-bombing-laid-to-rest/ Muslim bus driver killed in Burgas bombing laid to rest The Times of Israel 21 July 2012 22 July 2012 Ben Zion, Ilan Survivors of the attack described people being thrown into the air, people shouting and crying, and recalled seeing body parts. The witnesses said that the explosion began at the front of the bus and sent fire down through the vehicle. Some passengers on the bus jumped out of windows to escape.https://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=278028 Bus bomb survivor: 'There were bodies all around' The Jerusalem Post 18 July 2012 18 July 2012 Lappin, Yaakov Two days after the attack, Bulgarian Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov said that the bomb was carried in the backpack of a man who was filmed on security cameras at the airport. Tsvetanov added that the bomb was detonated in the luggage compartment of the bus, and that the blast was caused by 3 kilograms of TNT powder.https://www.timesofisrael.com/bulgaria-still-struggling-to-confirm-attackers-identity/ Burgas bomb was TNT device hidden in backpack, Bulgarian minister says The Times of Israel 20 July 2012 20 July 2012 Yaakov, Yifa Ben Zion, Ilan In 2020, however, the bomb was identified as an ammonium nitrate-based device.Tsolova Tsvetlia Bulgarian court sentences two men to life in prison for 2012 bus bombing https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bulgaria-israel-trial-blast/bulgarian-court-jails-two-men-for-life-for-2012-bus-bombing-idUSKCN26C168?il=0 24 September 2020 Reuters 21 September 2020 Fatalities Maor Harush (24) Acre—Israeli touristIsrael names five victims of Bulgaria terror attack https://www.haaretz.com/news/national/israel-names-five-victims-of-bulgaria-terror-attack-1.452308 https://web.archive.org/web/20120720044810/http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/israel-names-five-victims-of-bulgaria-terror-attack-1.452308 dead 20 July 2012 19 July 2012 19 July 2012 Haaretz Itzik Kolangi (28) Petah Tikva, Israel—Israeli tourist Mustafa Kyosov (36) Yurukovo, Bulgaria—Bus driver Amir Menashe (28) Petah Tikva, Israel—Israeli tourist Elior Preiss (25) Acre, Israel —Israeli tourist Kochava Shriki (42, pregnant) Rishon LeZion, Israel—Israeli tourist Mohamad Hassan El-Husseini (25) France—The bomber, dual Lebanese-French citizenship Perpetrator investigations Following the attack, a probe was launched to determine who was responsible for the attack. Bulgarian Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov said that the investigation might take years.http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4269812,00.html Bulgaria: Burgas probe can take years Yedioth Ahronot 17 August 2012 17 August 2012 On 12 August, a probe into the attack concluded that the perpetrator was a suicide bomber, which disproved other possible theories, such as being a deluded drug smuggler.http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=142235 Burgas terrorist proven to be suicide bomber – report Novinite 12 August 2012 12 August 2012 On 17 August, Tsvetanov said that the probe indicated that a country or terrorist organization was responsible for the bus bombing, but did not name any suspects. Description On 19 July, Tsvetanov stated that the suspected attacker is seen on security camera tape near the bus for about an hour before the blast and that he had a fake driver's license from the U.S. state of Michigan.Bulgaria official: Suspected suicide bomber in tourist attack carried Michigan license http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/19/12824974-bulgaria-official-suspected-suicide-bomber-in-tourist-attack-carried-michigan-license?chromedomain=usnews&lite https://archive.today/20130103221447/http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/19/12824974-bulgaria-official-suspected-suicide-bomber-in-tourist-attack-carried-michigan-license?chromedomain=usnews&lite dead 3 January 2013 19 July 2012 NBC News 19 July 2012 Associated Press The suspected bomber was described as a white male with long hair and wearing glasses.Kulish, Nicholas & Brunwasser, Matthew. Suicide Attacker With Fake U.S. ID Blamed in Bus Bomb The New York Times. Retrieved 19 July 2012. thumb|left|Sketch released by Bulgarian authorities of a man who is believed to be either an accomplice or the bomber Burgas prosecutor Kalina Tchapkanova quoted witnesses who said that the perpetrator "spoke English with a slight accent" and appeared to be Arab, while the wife of the owner of a car rental service said she was sure that the perpetrator was of Arab origin, and that he had a shaved head. The Bulgarian prosecutors said that the attacker had short hair, as opposed to the long hair seen in footage captured by a security camera at the airport, while a witness said that the perpetrator appeared to be wearing a wig. Other witnesses said that they saw the perpetrator speaking to tourists at local beaches in the days prior to the attack, and one witness said that the man told a group of tourists that his mother was Dutch and his father was Iranian.https://www.timesofisrael.com/bulgarian-authorities-release-artists-sketch-of-man-said-to-have-helped-bomber/ Bulgarian authorities release artist's sketch of man said to have helped Burgas terrorist The Times of Israel 20 July 2012 21 July 2012 Zeiger, Asher On 24 July, Bulgarian prime minister Boyko Borisov said that a sophisticated group of conspirators who spent at least a month in Bulgaria before the bombing were responsible for the terrorist attack, confirming suspicions that the perpetrator was not alone. Prime Minister Borisov said that those involved in the bombing used leased vehicles and moved in different cities so they wouldn't be seen together. He added that the perpetrators were "exceptionally skilled" and that they operated under "strict conspiracy rules." Prime Minister Borisov said that officials believe he might have flown into Bulgaria from a European country in the Schengen passport-free travel zone, of which Bulgaria was not yet a member, and Bulgaria is exploring that lead with officials in other European countries. Prime Minister Borisov added that DNA samples from the suicide bomber was shared with all partner security services, but no match has been found yet in their databases. European security officials also said that images of the suicide bomber have not yet matched any of their databases, but it's possible the suicide bomber was not on a watch list.http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4259995,00.html Bulgarian PM: Burgas bombers were here for a month Yedioth Ahronot Associated Press 24 July 2012 24 July 2012http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/24/bulgaria-bus-bombing_n_1698071.html Bulgaria Bus Bombing: Sophisticated Group of Conspirators Behind Attack, Prime Minister Says Huffington Post Associated Press 24 July 2012 24 July 2012 Toshkov, Veselin On 5 February 2013, it was reported that the suspect was a dual Canadian-Lebanese national living in Lebanon.Bulgaria bus bombing suspect https://nationalpost.com/news/canadian-citizen-confirmed-as-suspected-organizer-of-deadly-bulgaria-bus-bombing 6 February 2013 National Post 5 February 2013 On 18 July 2014, Bulgaria announced that they had identified the bomber as 25-year-old Lebanese-French citizen Mohamad Hassan El-Husseini through DNA testing. In April 2025, his remains were repatriated to Lebanon following negotiations with Bulgaria and was buried in a cemetery designated for Hezbollah fighters.Lebanese suicide bomber who killed 5 Israelis in Bulgaria is buried at Hezbollah cemetery https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-bulgaria-2012-attack-hezbollah-8ec05a4dff7fd22af7821c27f8ea37bb 13 April 2025 AP News 13 April 2025 Accomplices On 16 August, the Bulgarian authorities released a computer-generated image of a suspected accomplice, saying that "There is data that the man is related to the terrorist attack at the airport." The authorities thought it belonged to the suicide bomber, but a facial reconstruction determined that this was not the case, and raised the possibility of an accomplice.https://www.timesofisrael.com/photo-of-second-man-involved-in-burgas-bombing-released/ Photo of second man involved in Burgas bombing released The Times of Israel Associated Press 16 August 2012 16 August 2012 The authorities said that the suspected accomplice may have used various aliases while planning the terrorist attack, and used a fake driving license registered to "Ralph William Rico" from Grand Rapids, Michigan.https://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=281514 Bulgaria releases images of terrorist's accomplice The Jerusalem Post 16 August 2012 16 August 2012 thumb|right|The alleged accomplice in the terrorist attack On 21 August, a man from Plovdiv, a southern Bulgarian, said that he recognized the suspected accomplice, who he said he worked with for five years, and said that the accomplice is a Bulgarian who has been involved with people who preach Islamic extremism. Bulgarian police were investigating this lead as well.http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=142485 Suspected accomplice in Burgas bus bombing recognized Novinite 21 August 2012 22 August 2012 In late August, on behalf of the Bulgarian government, Interpol attempted to recruit the help of member nations to identify one of the suspects in the investigation, and posted on its website an image of the alleged accomplice, urging anyone who had information about his identity to notify the authorities. The posted images include a copy of the fake driver's license in which the suspect seems to be wearing a wig. Interpol described the suspect as having possible Middle Eastern origin, 1.70–1.75 meters tall, and dark brown hair and eyes, who speaks English with an accent.http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4275178,00.html Interpol: Help us identify Burgas bomber's accomplice Yedioth Ahronot 30 August 2012 30 August 2012 In October, Tsvetanov announced that the terrorist responsible for the attack had a maximum of five accomplices, all of which were foreign, and that the terrorist attack was plotted outside of Bulgaria for a year and a half.http://www.algemeiner.com/2012/10/25/burgas-bomber-had-up-to-five-accomplices-bulgaria-interior-minister-says/ Burgas Bomber Had up to Five Accomplices, Bulgaria Interior Minister Says The Algemeiner 25 October 2012 28 October 2012 Pontz, Zach Hezbollah and Iran Immediately following the attack, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hezbollah of carrying out the attack with the backing of Iran.7 dead, 3 critical after attack on Israeli tourists in Bulgaria https://www.timesofisrael.com/explosion-rocks-israeli-tour-bus-in-bulgaria/ 18 July 2012 The Times of Israel 18 July 2012 Michal Shmulovich Ilan Ben ZionAaron Mathis http://libertarianreview.us/2012/07/20/netanyahu-blames-iran-for-attack-in-bulgaria-in-record-time/ Netanyahu blames Iran for attack in Bulgaria in record time The Libertarian Review 20 July 2012 26 October 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120825194747/http://libertarianreview.us/2012/07/20/netanyahu-blames-iran-for-attack-in-bulgaria-in-record-time/ 25 August 2012 Netanyahu vowed that Israel would "react firmly [to this] global Iranian terror onslaught";http://www.pmo.gov.il/PMOEng/Communication/Spokesman/2012/07/spokeBulg180712.htm PM Netanyahu's Remarks Following the Terror Attack in Bulgaria The Prime Minister's Office 18 July 2012 18 July 2012 Israeli president Shimon Peres promised retaliation against 'Iranian terrorist sites' around the world.https://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=278117 Peres responds to Burgas blast: Israel will silence terror The Jerusalem Post 19 July 2012 19 July 2012 Keinon, Herb Iran denied responsibility for the act.http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4257782,00.html Iran denies link to Burgas attack Ynetnews 19 July 2012 19 July 2012http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2012/07/201271983322181964.html Iran denies Israeli claims on Bulgaria attack Al Jazeera 19 July 2012 19 July 2012 An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman rejected Netanyahu's accusation that the bombing was carried out by Hezbollah as a proxy for Iran as "baseless."https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/police-seek-bomber-identity-israel-blames-iran-16814663 International News ABC News 26 October 2012 On 19 July, The New York Times reported that United States officials identified the suicide bomber as a member of Hezbollah. An unnamed senior official told The New York Times that the bomber had a fake Michigan driver's license, but there are no indications that he had any connection to the United States. He added that the attacker was "acting under broad guidance" to hit Israeli targets when opportunities presented themselves and that this guidance was given to Hezbollah from Iran, which uses Hezbollah as a proxy. Two other anonymous officials added that Hezbollah was behind the bombing, although declined to offer further information. One of the officials interviewed declined to describe what specific intelligence led to the belief that the bomber was from Hezbollah.https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/20/world/europe/explosion-on-bulgaria-tour-bus-kills-at-least-five-israelis.html?pagewanted=all Hezbollah Is Blamed for Attack on Israeli Tourists in Bulgaria The New York Times 19 July 2012 20 July 2012 Kulish, Nicholas Schmitt, Eric Although Iran has repeatedly denied supporting militant attacks abroad, a report by the New York City Police Department's intelligence analysts said that the suicide bombing in Burgas was the second plot unmasked there this year that is suspected to be perpetrated by Hezbollah and/or Iran. The report linked nine plots in 2012 in various countries to Iran or its proxies.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-hezbollah-plots-idUSBRE86J0SW20120720 New York police link nine 2012 plots to Iran, proxies Reuters 20 July 2012 20 July 2012 Hosenball, Mark That same day, Tsvetanov denied media reports that it was a local Hezbollah cell, saying that the possibility was not discussed. He added that the bomber was a foreign national who had been in the country for a minimum of four days,https://www.nation.com.pk/22-Jul-2012/police-struggle-to-identify-bulgaria-suicide-bomber Police struggle to identify Bulgaria suicide bomber The Nation Agence France-Presse 22 July 2012 22 July 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120723105227/http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/national/22-Jul-2012/police-struggle-to-identify-bulgaria-suicide-bomber 23 July 2012 live dmy-all and was not Bulgarian, and also that investigators were following several leads, including that there was an accomplice.Barak: Hezbollah behind attack, bomber's identity not known https://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=278307 20 July 2012 The Jerusalem Post 20 July 2012 However, according to Vladimir Shopov, a political scientist at the New Bulgarian University, "For small Bulgaria to come out and openly name Hezbollah in such a way is as good as entering a minefield. There would have to be absolute certainty almost."https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/31/world/europe/after-bombing-bulgarias-ties-with-israel-at-risk.html?_r=2&ref=israelthe After Bus Bombing, Bulgaria's Ties With Israel Are at Risk The New York Times 31 July 2012 31 July 2012 Kulish, Nicholas On 31 July, a member of the Bulgarian security establishment told The New York Times that there was a "clear direction that points to Hezbollah," in the pattern as well as evidence of the attack. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney stated, "It is certainly the case that Hezbollah and Iran have been bad actors, as a general matter, but we're not, at this point, in a position to make a statement about responsibility."http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2012/07/white-house-not-fingering-iran-hezbollah-in-bulguria-attack/1#.UAnwNJGmW White House reserving judgment on Bulgaria attack USA Today 20 July 2012 6 February 2013 The Pentagon has said that there were "distinctive Hezbollah markings" linked to the attack in Burgas, although at the time they could not "decisively state" who was responsible for the attack.Pentagon backs Hezbollah link to Burgas terror attack http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4258315,00.html 21 July 2012 Yedioth Ahronoth 20 July 2012 On 9 August, The New York Times reported that in the two months leading up to the terrorist attack, Israel's intelligence services intercepted numerous phone calls between Burgas and Lebanon, which increased significantly three days prior to the bombing. An Israeli official said, "We know the sources in Lebanon, though not the identity of those on the other end in Bulgaria." The New York Times also said that American and Bulgarian officials support Israel's assessment of the record, but won't announce that publicly.http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4266437,00.html Report: Calls made between Burgas, Lebanon before blast Yedioth Ahronot 9 August 2012 9 August 2012https://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=280616 J'lem intercepted calls between Lebanon, Burgas The Jerusalem Post 9 August 2012 9 August 2012http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=5353 Spike in calls between Lebanon, Burgas before attack Israel Hayom 9 August 2012 9 August 2012 The newspaper also reported that a German intelligence official said there was skepticism regarding Hezbollah's involvement in the terrorist attack, and it is more likely that operatives with some connection to Hezbollah were used by Iran.Report: Israel finds unusually high number of Lebanon, Burgas phone calls made before attack. By Barak Ravid, Haaretz. 9 August 2012 On 28 August, Lebanese newspaper Al-Jumhuriya reported that Bulgaria is "leaning toward" blaming Hezbollah for the terrorist attack.https://www.timesofisrael.com/bulgaria-blames-hezbollah-for-burgas-attack-reports-say/ Bulgaria set to blame Hezbollah for Burgas attack, report claims The Times of Israel 28 August 2012 28 August 2012 Podolsky, Philip Iran has denied responsibility for the attack. After Bulgaria's centre-right wing government was replaced by a Social Democratic-led one, the certainty about the charges were diminished.http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2013/Jun-05/219519-bulgaria-now-says-hezbollahs-role-in-bus-bombing-unproven.ashx#axzz2VKnamuZG Bulgaria now says Hezbollah's role in bus bombing unproven The Daily Star Base of Jihad On 21 July, an unknown group called "Base of Jihad" claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement that appeared on a Lebanese news site. However, a spokesman for Bulgaria's foreign ministry denied that the group was responsible.Previously unknown group claims Burgas attack https://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=278384 21 July 2012 The Jerusalem Post 21 July 2012 Katz, Yaakovhttp://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4258513,00.html Bulgaria dismisses claim of responsibility Ynetnews Yedioth Ahronot 21 July 2012 22 July 2012 Mehdi Ghezali A few days after the attack, Bulgarian news sources published information alleging that the bomber was a Swedish citizen and former captive at Guantánamo Bay, Mehdi Ghezali. Swedish and Bulgarian authorities denied that these reports were correct, and United States officials said there was no evidence supporting the reports that Ghezali was responsible.http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2012/07/report-bulgarian-bomber-identified-former-guantanmo-detainee/54793/ Swedes Deny Report That Bomber Was a Former Guantanamo Detainee The Atlantic Wire 20 July 2012 20 July 2012 Bennett, Dashiell 21 July 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120721044535/http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2012/07/report-bulgarian-bomber-identified-former-guantanmo-detainee/54793/ deadhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/19/mehdi-ghezali-israel-tourist-suicide-bomber_n_1686448.html Mehdi Ghezali, Israeli Tourist Suicide Bomber? Officials Deny Report Naming Former Gitmo Detainee Huffington Post 19 July 2012 20 July 2012 In early October 2012, the Bulgarian daily 24 Chasa gained access to an interview with a radical Salafi militant leader, Omar Bakri, who said that he recognized the suspect as being Mehdi Ghezali. After reports surfaced linking Ghezali to the attack, Bakri said that he called "my brothers in Great Britain" to determine the identity of the man, who told him that it was Mehdi Ghezali. In addition, Bakri said that his radical organization, Al-Muhajiroun, intended on paying damages to Mustafa Kyosov, the Muslim bus driver who was killed during the attack, but decided against this, because "Muslims are warned not to hang around near Jews if they don't want to get hurt."http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=143809 Ghezali 'reemerges' as Burgas bombing suspect Novinite 4 October 2012 4 October 2012 Bakri also alleged that Bulgaria and Eastern Europe was considered Islamic territory.http://www.dnes.bg/obshtestvo/2012/10/04/atentatoryt-ot-burgas-razpoznat.169769 Атентаторът от Бургас разпознат Investor 4 October 2012 4 October 2012 Conviction In September 2020, a Bulgarian court sentenced in absentia two men to life in prison in connection with the bombing. The first was Meliad Farah, dual Lebanese-Australian National, while the second was Hassan El Hajj Hassan, a dual Lebanese-Canadian national. The whereabouts of both men were unknown and because of this they were placed on an Interpol red notice.2020-09-21 2 sentenced to life in absentia over Bulgarian bus bombing https://apnews.com/0620d303fdc33bcff08119beba8d6084 2020-09-21 AP NEWS Reactions The terrorist attack in Burgas was denounced by governments and supranational organizations worldwide. Bulgaria's EU Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva expressed her shock and sadness;http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=141411 Bulgarian EU Commissioner 'shocked' by Burgas terrorist attack on Israeli tourists Novinite 18 July 2012 18 July 2012 Prime Minister Boyko Borisov called Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and conveyed his condolences over the attack;7 reported killed in terror attack against Israelis in Bulgaria https://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/at-least-7-killed-in-terror-attack-against-israelis-in-bulgaria-1.452013 https://web.archive.org/web/20120721065213/http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/7-reported-killed-in-terror-attack-against-israelis-in-bulgaria-1.452013 dead 21 July 2012 18 July 2012 Haaretz 18 July 2012 Barak Ravid Zohar Blumenkrantz Foreign Minister Nickolay Mladenov condemned the attack but said that it would be a mistake to prematurely jump to conclusions.2012-07-21 Bulgaria says it is a mistake to blame any specific country for bus bombing https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/401112/Bulgaria-says-it-is-a-mistake-to-blame-any-specific-country-for 2025-11-10 Tehran Times en The Bulgarian Parliament unanimously adopted a declaration the day after the attack which condemned the terror attack, and urged the relevant authorities to take all measures in order to catch and bring to justice the perpetrators of the attack.http://sofiaglobe.com/2012/07/19/parliament-un-eu-condemn-suicide-bombing-terrorist-attack-at-bulgarian-airport/ Parliament, United Nations, EU condemn suicide bombing terrorist attack at Bulgarian airport: Updated The Sofia Globe 19 July 2012 20 July 2012 Leviev-Sawyer, Clivehttp://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=141450 Bulgarian Parliament condemns anti-Israel attack Novinite 19 July 2012 20 July 2012 The office of the Chief Mufti, Bulgaria's principal Muslim leader, condemned the terrorist attack and expressed its condolences to the families of the victims. The office excluded "the possibility that such people are Muslims."http://sofiaglobe.com/2012/07/19/chief-muftis-office-does-not-believe-bulgarian-muslim-would-have-been-involved-in-bourgas-airport-terrorist-attack/ Chief Mufti's office does not believe Bulgarian Muslim would have been involved in Bourgas Airport terrorist attack The Sofia Globe 19 July 2012 25 July 2012 Leviev-Sawyer, Clive Across the globe, foreign governments offered support and solidarity to the citizens and authorities of Bulgaria and Israel, and expressed their condolences for the victims. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the attack in "the strongest possible terms" and expressed his condolences, and the United Nations Security Council unanimously condemned the attack in Burgas as a terrorist attack and expressed its condolences as well.https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=42508&Cr=terror&Cr1= UN chief condemns deadly bomb attack on Israeli tourist bus in Bulgaria United Nations News Centre 18 July 2012 18 July 2012http://sofiaglobe.com/2012/07/19/united-nations-security-council-unanimously-condemns-terrorist-attack-in-bulgaria/ United Nations Security Council unanimously condemns terrorist attack in Bulgaria The Sofia Globe 19 July 2012 22 July 2012 Leviev-Sawyer, Clive Aftermath After the attack, Burgas Airport was closed and flights were redirected to the airport of Varna. Israel's airline El Al canceled its flight from Tel Aviv to Sofia, which was supposed to leave at 16:00 GMT.https://news.yahoo.com/blast-bulgaria-bus-carrying-israeli-tourists-3-dead-155253238.html Israel blames Iran for Bulgaria bus bomb that kills six Yahoo News Reuters 18 July 2012 19 July 2012 Nenov, Stoyan A military service was held in honor of the victims at Ben Gurion International Airport. Two days after the attack, Israel's Mossad and Shin Bet agencies had teams on the ground in Bulgaria to assist the authorities in identifying the perpetrator.https://www.timesofisrael.com/bulgaria-still-struggling-to-confirm-attackers-identity/ Mossad and Shin Bet help Bulgarian authorities working to confirm attacker's identity The Times of Israel 20 July 2012 20 July 2012 Interpol sent a team of experts to Bulgaria to investigate the terrorist attack. Interpol Secretary General Ronald Noble said that the information concerning the fake U.S. ID papers that the perpetrator used could be indispensable and of great value if it is found in Interpol's database.http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4258197,00.html Interpol sends team to investigate Burgas terror attack Yedioth Ahronot 20 July 2012 21 July 2012 The Israeli Air Force sent a C-130 Hercules transport plane to Burgas Airport, where it picked up 32 of the wounded and took them to Israel for treatment. A second Israeli C-130 landed in Sofia, carrying Magen David Adom specialists to evaluate the remaining wounded, and to judge whether it was safe to fly them home. The mission included military medical personnel, members of Unit 669, Home Front Command officers, along with a cadre of IDF officers. ZAKA personnel were also sent to Bulgaria to properly identify the bodies. At Ben-Gurion International Airport, 24 ambulances and medical were deployed to ensure that the injured could be swiftly transferred to local hospitals upon arrival.http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4257661,00.html Burgas attack: Israel mounts rescue mission Ynetnews 19 July 2012 5 February 2013 The Washington Posts editorial page on 20 July contained an editorial headline "Holding Iran accountable for terrorist attacks," in which The Washington Post said that Iran must suffer for its acts of global terrorism, and "The Security Council should review the abundant evidence of involvement by the Revolutionary Guard and Hezbollah in this year's attacks and punish both those groups as well as the Iranian government with sanctions." The newspaper wrote "Using the territory of countries across the world, working sometimes through proxies like Lebanon's Hezbollah and sometimes with its own forces, Tehran has been intentionally targeting not just diplomats of enemies such as Israel and Saudi Arabia but also civilians."https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/holding-iran-accountable-for-terrorist-attacks/2012/07/20/gJQAyjJryW_story.html Holding Iran accountable for terrorist attack The Washington Post 20 July 2012 22 July 2012 In August, it was reported that Greek police fear a similar attack on Israeli tourists ahead of Israeli president Shimon Peres' visit to Greece. According to the report, police have raised the alert level and Greek intelligence is in constant contact with the Mossad.http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4264832,00.html Greece: Police fear Burgas style attack ahead of Peres visit Yedioth Ahronot 5 August 2012 5 August 2012 Bulgarian and Israeli security Around 70 Israelis who escaped the attack were immediately flown home on a Bulgarian plane. Mayor Yordanka Fandakova of Sofia ordered a stronger police presence at all public places linked to the Jewish community, which numbers about 5,000. The day after the attack, Israel boosted security at El Al airport counters and around embassies across the globe, whilst flight delays of up to 5–6 hours were reported at Ben-Gurion Airport. Mossad and Shin Bet officials convened a meeting on the same day to discuss future coordination and to assess the threat level in various countries throughout the world.https://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=278229 Security at El Al counters boosted amid terror concerns The Jerusalem Post 20 July 2012 20 July 2012 Katz, Yaakov On 22 July, Mossad Director Tamir Pardo and Shin Bet (Internal Security Agency) Director Yoram Cohen briefed the Israeli Cabinet on the intelligence agencies' actions against terrorism perpetrated by or planned by Iran and Hezbollah around the world according to the intelligence agencies' assessment. Pardo and Cohen said that Iran and Hezbollah have attempted to perpetrate terrorist attacks in over 20 countries in the two years prior to the attack.http://www.pmo.gov.il/PMOEng/Communication/Spokesman/2012/07/spokeskira220712.htm#.UAxUjTgZIKA.twitter Mossad Director Pardo and ISA Director Cohen Brief the Cabinet on Intelligence Agencies' Actions against Iranian and Hezbollah Terrorism Prime Minister's Office 22 July 2012 22 July 2012 In September 2012, it was reported that Israeli Mossad agents and Bulgarian national security agents (SANS) are working together ahead of the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashana, which falls on Saint Sofia Day in 2012, to enhance security in and around synagogues, hotels, and churches. Intelligence agents will oversee traffic at airports in Sofia and Burgas as well. Although Israel's Counter Terrorism Bureau didn't issue a travel advisory to Bulgaria, it did ask authorities in Bulgaria, Thailand, Greece, and Cyprus to boost security around Israeli tourists ahead of the Jewish High Holidays.http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4278636,00.html Report: Mossad beefs up security in Bulgaria Yedioth Ahronot 8 September 2012 8 September 2012 Humanitarian relief efforts Magen David Adom, Israel's national emergency medical, disaster, ambulance, and blood bank service, sent delegations to Bulgaria to help treat the wounded. The first delegation arrived on the night of the attack.https://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=278044 First MDA delegation lands in Bulgaria to treat wounded The Jerusalem Post 19 July 2012 18 July 2012 The next morning, two Israeli Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft landed in Burgas in order to airlift the Israelis injured in Wednesday's terror attack back to Israel.http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4257661,00.html Israeli rescue operation in Burgas underway Yedioth Ahronot 19 July 2012 19 July 2012 Reuven, Carmit Ynetnews Bulgaria's youngest-ever parliamentarian, Kalina Krumova, then 27, rushed to the hospital in jeans and sandals where the injured were being treated, and stayed there during the entire night alongside the Israeli aid teams. She assisted in translations for the aid teams and in communicating with the injured, since many of the hospital staff did not speak English. Professor Gabi Barbash, head of the Israeli rescue mission, said, "Without her, we would have been deaf and dumb."http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4258469,00.html Bulgarian MP rushes to help Burgas victims Yedioth Ahronot 21 July 2012 22 July 2012 Reuven, Carmit In the afternoon of the day after the attack, a military plane safely returned the 32 Israelis who were wounded to Israel. That night, a C-130 that was sent to Sofia returned to Israel with three Israelis who suffered serious injuries during the attack.http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4258061,00.html/ Victims of Burgas terror attack named Yedioth Ahronot 19 July 2012 19 July 2012 Azulay, Moron Chai, Shahar Bulgaria–Israel relations Foreign relations of Israel#Bulgaria Noah Gal Gendler, a former Israeli ambassador to Bulgaria, said that relations between Israel and Bulgaria are extremely good at present, and the attack won't change this. Gal-Gendler said that the Bulgarian authorities are horrified and in shock.https://www.timesofisrael.com/live-blog-israelis-killed-in-terror-explosion-in-bulgaria/ The death toll mounted, and Israel blamed Iran The Times of Israel 18 July 2012 19 July 2012 Ben Zion, Ilan Shmulovich, Michal In an effort to keep tourism ties strong between Bulgaria and Israel following the terrorist attack, Israeli tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov traveled to Bulgaria with a delegation of prominent members of Israel's tourism sector and met with Bulgarian prime minister Boyko Borisov and President Rosen Plevneliev. At a press conference, Misezhnikov, Borisov, and Plevneliev announced that the two countries would strengthen their strategic cooperation in tourism and security.http://www.jewishpress.com/news/israel/bulgaria-and-israel-to-strengthen-strategic-cooperation-on-tourism-and-security/2012/07/24/0/?print Bulgaria and Israel to Strengthen Strategic Cooperation on Tourism and Security Jewish Press 23 August 2012 Misezhnikov also held a memorial ceremony at the site of the bombing. Misezhnikov stressed that "Terrorism will not disrupt our lives and stop our aspirations," and encouraged Israelis to keep traveling, saying that "tourism is a bridge to peace." He also thanked the Bulgarian government for its cooperation and its "dedicated treatment following the tragic terror attack."https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-tourism-minister-to-hold-a-ceremony-at-site-burgas-attack/ Israeli tourism minister to hold ceremony at site of Burgas terror attack The Times of Israel 22 July 2012 22 July 2012 Kalman, Aaron On 25 August, Bulgarian Energy and Economy Minister Delyan Dobrev said that the flow of tourists to Bulgaria from Israel returned to normal, despite the terrorist attack causing a temporary decrease. Dobrev announced that 28 charter flights from Israel had arrived in Bulgaria a week before his announcement, indicating that the flow of tourists had been fully restored. Dobrev also suggested that this restoration was the result of Miszhnikov's visit to Bulgaria, as well as a promotional campaign for Bulgaria by four of Israel's largest print edition and interviews on local TV channels.http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=142600 Tourists flow from Israel back to normal – Bulgarian minister Novinite 25 August 2012 26 August 2012 In order to demonstrate unity following the terrorist attack, the Israeli and Bulgarian governments met in Israel at Jerusalem in September 2012. Bulgarian prime minister Boyko Borissov, along with 12 out of 16 ministers, visited Israel for a joint meeting between the two governments. In addition, Borissov held one-on-one meetings with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli president Shimon Peres.http://www.france24.com/en/20120906-israel-bulgaria-governments-meet-after-bus-bombing Israel, Bulgaria governments to meet after bus bombing France 24 6 September 2012 6 September 2012April 2019 InternetArchiveBot yes In another meeting in October 2012, Israeli president Shimon Peres praised Bulgarian president Rosen Plevneliev and Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov's response to the terrorist attack, while Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin invited the family of the slain bus driver to Israel. Peres thanked Bulgaria for saving Jews during the Holocaust and for continuing to support Israel after the terrorist attack. Plevneliev said that "together, Israel and Bulgaria will fight terror and evil."https://www.timesofisrael.com/knesset-speaker-invites-family-of-slain-bulgarian-bus-driver-to-visit-israel/ Knesset speaker invites family of slain Bulgarian bus driver to visit The Times of Israel 22 October 2012 22 October 2012 Shmulovich, Michal Bulgarian ceremony In late August 2012, Bulgaria held a remembrance ceremony in honor of the victims of the terrorist attack. Two ceremonies were held, one in Sofia's largest synagogue, which prepared a curation of the ark that contained the names of the victims, and another ceremony was held in Burgas. Israeli groups were accompanied by guards and police canine units, and security was tight. Many families of the victims of the attack took part in the ceremony, and met with Bulgarian president Rosen Plevneliev, Bulgarian prime minister Boyko Borisov, and Bulgarian minister of tourism Dlyan Dobrev, and were also hosted at the Israeli ambassador to Bulgaria Shaul Kamisa's house.http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=5566 Bulgaria hosts ceremonies for Burgas terror attack victims Israel Hayom 27 August 2012 27 August 2012 Schlezinger, Yehuda Beit-or, Meital Yasur At the ceremony, the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) said that it would include the family of Mustafa Kyosov, the Muslim bus driver who was killed in the attack, among recipients of aid from the Fund for the Victims of Terror. The $1,500 grant was given to the Kyosovs in order to "ease their financial struggles and show the solidarity of the Jewish people with their loss." Former Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Ya'alon spoke at the ceremony as well, saying that: Dozens were injured simply because they were Jews and Israelis. Every victim represents an entire world, a life story cut short, dreams that will not be fulfilled. Terrorism does not distinguish between blood and blood, and from person to person. Killers try to reach any place in the world to attack innocent Jews and Israelis, and would not hesitate to kill anyone who stood in their way when they implement their actions."https://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=282935 JAFI give aid to family of non-Jewish Burgas victim The Jerusalem Post 28 August 2012 28 August 2012 Shefler, Gil Blood-curdling terrorists do not distinguish between the blood of one person or another. These killers try to attack innocent Jews and Israelis, and they will travel to any part of the world, and kill anyone who stands in their way, in order to do so. [We will] hunt down the perpetrators of this disgusting terror act by any means necessary...and pursue them to the bitter end.https://www.timesofisrael.com/yaalon-we-will-hunt-down-the-burgas-terrorists-with-whatever-means-necessary/ Ya'alon: We will hunt down the Burgas bombers by any means necessary The Times of Israel 28 August 2012 28 August 2012 Shmulovich, Michal See also Bulgaria Terrorism in the European Union List of terrorist incidents, 2012 History of the Jews in Bulgaria 1992 attack on Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires 2012 attacks on Israeli diplomats 2012 Cyprus terrorist plot References External links Burgas attack collected news and commentary at The Times of Israel Burgas attack collected news and commentary at Arutz Sheva Category:2012 crimes in Bulgaria Category:July 2012 in Europe Category:Attacks on tourists in Europe Category:Bus bombings in Europe Category:Israeli people murdered abroad Category:Israeli terrorism victims Category:2012 mass murders Category:Suicide bombings in 2012 Category:Suicide bombings in Bulgaria Category:Terrorist incidents in Bulgaria Category:Terrorist incidents in Europe in 2012 Category:Transport in Burgas Category:Bulgaria–Israel relations Category:Iran–Israel proxy conflict Category:Hezbollah attacks Category:21st-century mass murders in Europe Category:July 2012 crimes in Europe Category:Anti-Israeli sentiment