Bulgarian officials are investigating an overnight explosion at a weapons storage site near Tsareva Livada. Interior Minister Ivan Dermendzhiev said there were no injuries, the fire was controlled and investigators are exploring a possible link to an August blaze at another EMCO facility. Dermendzhiev blamed negligent storage and security practices but did not directly address opposition allegations of Moscow-linked sabotage. EMCO has a history of explosions and its owner survived a 2015 assassination attempt tied to suspects alleged to be Russian military intelligence operatives.
Explosion at Bulgarian Ammunition Depot Near Tsareva Livada Sparks Probe Into Neglect or Possible Sabotage
Fire from an ammunition depot storage of the EMCO company near Tsareva Livada, Bulgaria, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026 as Bulgarian authorities launched investigations in an explosion at a weapons storage site in central Bulgaria overnight, which came in the wake of another blaze at a munition's depot in the last weeks. (AP Photo/BGNES Agency)(AP Photo/BGNES Agency)
Bulgarian authorities have opened a criminal probe after an overnight explosion and fire at a weapons storage site near the village of Tsareva Livada in central Bulgaria. The blaze follows another recent fire at a munitions depot and has renewed concerns about storage safety and the possibility of deliberate attack.
Interior Minister Ivan Dermendzhiev told reporters on Saturday that no injuries were reported and that the fire was under control while investigations continue. He said the incident may be linked to a separate fire in August at another facility belonging to the EMCO company.
Police and fire department near Tsareva Livada, Bulgaria, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026 as Bulgarian authorities launched investigations in an explosion at a weapons storage site in central Bulgaria overnight, which came in the wake of another blaze at a munition's depot in the last weeks. (AP Photo/BGNES Agency)(AP Photo/BGNES Agency)
"There is a neglect of the conditions under which explosives and ammunition are stored," Dermendzhiev said, placing responsibility on management. "There is also neglect of the method of security — we have one incident, we have a second. This activity is a serious enough source of danger not to neglect measures in any way."
Dermendzhiev, a member of the center-left government associated with President Rumen Radev, declined to directly address opposition claims that the fires could be linked to sabotage by Moscow targeting factories that supply arms to Ukraine.
Background and Context
EMCO, a Bulgarian arms manufacturer that has supplied weapons to Ukraine, has experienced several explosions at its facilities over the past decade. In 2015 EMCO owner Emilian Gebrev survived an assassination attempt; charges were later filed against three Russian nationals suspected of being operatives of Russian military intelligence.
Police and fire department near Tsareva Livada, Bulgaria, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026 as Bulgarian authorities launched investigations in an explosion at a weapons storage site in central Bulgaria overnight, which came in the wake of another blaze at a munition's depot in the last weeks. (AP Photo/BGNES Agency)(AP Photo/BGNES Agency)
Authorities say probes will examine possible causes including negligence in storage and security procedures, accidental ignition, and deliberate sabotage. Officials have not yet released forensic findings or a timeline for when conclusions might be expected.
Why it matters: Repeated incidents at munitions sites raise urgent safety concerns for local communities and may have geopolitical implications given Bulgaria's role as a supplier of military equipment and the broader tensions surrounding the war in Ukraine.
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