This article is from the source 'rtcom' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.rt.com/news/525203-us-soldiers-raid-bulgaria/
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Get these men a map: Stray US soldiers RAID Bulgarian plant making biofuel equipment in bungled exercise (VIDEO) | Get these men a map: Stray US soldiers RAID Bulgarian plant making biofuel equipment in bungled exercise (VIDEO) |
| (3 months later) | |
| The US Embassy in Sofia has apologized for an accidental raid conducted by American soldiers at a Bulgarian engineering plant earlier this month. It happened amid a NATO military exercise. | The US Embassy in Sofia has apologized for an accidental raid conducted by American soldiers at a Bulgarian engineering plant earlier this month. It happened amid a NATO military exercise. |
| The brief armed incursion happened on May 11, while Bulgaria was hosting US and other allied soldiers participating in the Swift Response exercise. However, the Bulgarian public only learned about it on Friday, after the owner of the raided factory spoke to national media. | The brief armed incursion happened on May 11, while Bulgaria was hosting US and other allied soldiers participating in the Swift Response exercise. However, the Bulgarian public only learned about it on Friday, after the owner of the raided factory spoke to national media. |
| Footage from the factory’s security cameras showed seven US soldiers armed with assault rifles and moving in fire teams to secure the facility, with no resistance from the workers. After finding no ‘enemy’ combatants, the Americans left. | Footage from the factory’s security cameras showed seven US soldiers armed with assault rifles and moving in fire teams to secure the facility, with no resistance from the workers. After finding no ‘enemy’ combatants, the Americans left. |
| The US Embassy in Bulgaria said it learned about the incident only this week and was deeply sorry about it. The incursion was made by soldiers assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade, who strayed outside the designated area of the exercise at the Cheshnegirovo Air Base, where they trained in “entering and clearing multiple bunkers and structures across the airfield.” | The US Embassy in Bulgaria said it learned about the incident only this week and was deeply sorry about it. The incursion was made by soldiers assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade, who strayed outside the designated area of the exercise at the Cheshnegirovo Air Base, where they trained in “entering and clearing multiple bunkers and structures across the airfield.” |
| “The US Army takes training seriously and prioritizes the safety of our soldiers, our allies, and civilians. We sincerely apologize to the business and its employees,” the embassy said. | “The US Army takes training seriously and prioritizes the safety of our soldiers, our allies, and civilians. We sincerely apologize to the business and its employees,” the embassy said. |
| The raided Kim Engineering factory is located near the airfield, about 20km (12.4 miles) east of the city of Plovdiv. The firm specializes in making oil refining equipment for biofuel production. The owner, Marin Dimitrov, said his workers were terrified by the experience. | The raided Kim Engineering factory is located near the airfield, about 20km (12.4 miles) east of the city of Plovdiv. The firm specializes in making oil refining equipment for biofuel production. The owner, Marin Dimitrov, said his workers were terrified by the experience. |
| “All my workers are experiencing huge stress. How can they put up with such an invasion? I think they are offended,” he told the media. | “All my workers are experiencing huge stress. How can they put up with such an invasion? I think they are offended,” he told the media. |
| Bulgaria’s Defense Ministry downplayed the incident as “an obvious misunderstanding” that didn’t involve use of force or mistreatment of civilians, but it agreed to pay the factory for any possible material damage. | Bulgaria’s Defense Ministry downplayed the incident as “an obvious misunderstanding” that didn’t involve use of force or mistreatment of civilians, but it agreed to pay the factory for any possible material damage. |
| The Bulgarian military is currently investigating why information about the US incursion remained hidden from the public for almost two weeks. But Georgi Panayotov, Bulgaria’s envoy to the UN and currently also the country’s acting defense minister, said during a media conference that there was no attempt to cover-up the incident. | The Bulgarian military is currently investigating why information about the US incursion remained hidden from the public for almost two weeks. But Georgi Panayotov, Bulgaria’s envoy to the UN and currently also the country’s acting defense minister, said during a media conference that there was no attempt to cover-up the incident. |
| This did not stop some Bulgarian opposition politicians from calling for Panayotov’s resignation. “Does the defense minister want people with weapons to break into his home and how would he call it,” the nationalist Attack party demanded, responding to the media briefing and the assertion that no violence was used. Panayotov headed the NATO department in the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry, which, the party believes, makes him biased and unfit to review the situation. | This did not stop some Bulgarian opposition politicians from calling for Panayotov’s resignation. “Does the defense minister want people with weapons to break into his home and how would he call it,” the nationalist Attack party demanded, responding to the media briefing and the assertion that no violence was used. Panayotov headed the NATO department in the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry, which, the party believes, makes him biased and unfit to review the situation. |
| Swift Response 2021 was a US Army-led multinational exercise involving more than 7,000 paratroopers from 10 NATO allies. | Swift Response 2021 was a US Army-led multinational exercise involving more than 7,000 paratroopers from 10 NATO allies. |
| Like this story? Share it with a friend! | Like this story? Share it with a friend! |
| Dear readers and commenters, | |
| We have implemented a new engine for our comment section. We hope the transition goes smoothly for all of you. Unfortunately, the comments made before the change have been lost due to a technical problem. We are working on restoring them, and hoping to see you fill up the comment section with new ones. You should still be able to log in to comment using your social-media profiles, but if you signed up under an RT profile before, you are invited to create a new profile with the new commenting system. | |
| Sorry for the inconvenience, and looking forward to your future comments, | |
| RT Team. |