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Bulgaria to put bombing suspects on trial | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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A truck carries the bus that was destroyed in the July 18, 2012, bomb blast, which occurred in the coastal city of Burgas. (Stoyan Nenov/Reuters)


A truck carries the bus that was destroyed in the July 18, 2012, bomb blast, which occurred in the coastal city of Burgas. (Stoyan Nenov/Reuters)

A truck carries the bus that was destroyed in the July 18, 2012, bomb blast, which occurred in the coastal city of Burgas. (Stoyan Nenov/Reuters)

Sofia, AP—The suspects in a July 2012 bomb attack in Bulgaria that killed five Israeli tourists and a Bulgarian bus driver will be put on trial early next year, the country’s chief prosecutor said Thursday.

Sotir Tsatsarov told reporters that an indictment should be ready in the first three months of next year.

Bulgaria has already identified the suspects as 32-year-old Meliad Farah, also known as Hussein Hussein, an Australian citizen, and 25-year-old Hassan El Hajj Hassan, a Canadian citizen, both of Lebanese origin.

The suicide bomber, who died on the spot in the bombing at Burgas Airport on the Black Sea coast, has not been identified.

Tsatsarov said that the whereabouts of the two suspected perpetrators of the terrorist act is known. He did not elaborate beyond saying that they are in a country “from which extradition would be possible.” He cautioned however that “whether the extradition request will be respected depends on the country where these people are.”

The chief prosecutor said the trial will end with a verdict regardless of whether the suspects are handed over to Bulgaria or not.