10th Anniversary of Burgas Bulgaria Airport Terrorist Bombing Of Israeli Tourists Commemorated

Jerusalem, 18 July, 2022 (TPS) -- Burgas, on the Black Sea 18.07.2022 (BTA)
Monday marked ten years since a suicide bomber blew himself up near a bus carrying Israeli tourists at Burgas Sarafovo Airport on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, killing five Israeli nationals and the Bulgarian bus driver, and injuring another 35 people. A commemorative ceremony took place on the date of the bombing at the memorial to the victims.

The ceremony was attended by Israeli Ambassador to Bulgaria Yoram Elron, US Ambassador Herro Mustafa, Burgas Mayor Dimiter Nikolov, Burgas Regional Governor Stoiko Tankov, the Head of the Burgas Regional Directorate of the Interior Ministry Kalyoan Kaloyanov, Sofia’s Military Medical Academy Director Ventsislav Mutafchiiski, former interior minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov, MPs, and relatives of the victims.
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Ambassador Elron said the Burgas bombing was a tragic moment but it showed that terrorism will not prevail. He noted that the flow of Israeli tourists to Bulgaria has increased, which means that people are not afraid.

Mayor Nikolov said that no memorial can ease the pain caused by the attack. It was a great shock to everyone, he added. He thanked those who did even the impossible to ensure that the people killed in the bombing were no more than six.

The ceremony was also attended by the father of the Bulgarian victim. Ahmed Kissyov could not hold back his tears and said that time does not heal – the pain remains strong.

The 2012 bombing was carried out by Mohamad Hassan El Husseini (dual Lebanese-French citizen). In September 2020, a Bulgarian court sentenced in absentia the two accomplices of the bombing, Hassan El Hajj Hassan, 28 (dual Lebanese-Canadian national), and Meliad Farah, 35 (dual Lebanese-Australian national), to life in prison. As the whereabouts of both men were unknown, they were placed on an Interpol red notice.