Bulgaria's IntMin Makes U-Turn on Terror Threat

There is "no evidence" of a terror attack being plotted in Bulgaria, outgoing Interior Minister Rumyana Bachvarova has said.

"There are people distributing this kind of information. [Security] services are working and every piece of information is being looked at," Bachvarova told private NOVA TV broadcaster.

"What we have is data that part of the foreign media are distributing information that an attack may be carried out on the territory of Bulgaria in relation to the developments in Harmanli, but there is no evidence."

On Monday, Bachvarova's words that "diplomatic sources" had confirmed data about foreign nationals possibly organzing a plot sparked controversy and stirred up panic, but were later refuted by both the prosecuting authority and the Interior Ministry itself.

The Interior Ministry later announced it had information about Afghans speading rumours of a possible attack in the country in retaliation to the police crackdown in the Harmanli reception center, where migrants stirred up unrest at the end of November.

None of the migrants who took part in the riots has been forcibly returned to their homeland yet, Bachvarova has made it clear.

Up to 500 people who opted for an assisted voluntary return, however, are to be sent back after having submitted applications, she has added.