Bulgaria at risk but not threatened by terrorism: official

There is a risk but no threat of terrorism in Bulgaria, Svetlozar Lazarov, secretary general of the country's Ministry of Interior, said Thursday.

A day after the deadly attack against the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo in Paris, he said in an interview with the Bulgarian National Television that "indeed there is a risk of terrorist attack" in his country.

Lazarov recalled that Bulgaria was already hit by a terrorist act in 2012 when a bomber blew himself up near an Israeli-packed tourist bus at the Burgas airport, killing five tourists, their Bulgarian driver and himself.

However, a distinction should be made between a risk and a threat, Lazarov said.

"I do not have information about a threat," he said.

The risk analysis is based on several factors and appropriate measures will be taken after it, Lazarov said.

He said that Bulgaria has, among the measures the country has taken, has put the Bulgarian-Turkish border under complete control. Endit