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| Ahmed Dogan attacked by armed assailant in Bulgaria | Ahmed Dogan attacked by armed assailant in Bulgaria |
| (2 days later) | |
| A man put a gas pistol to the head of the leader of Bulgaria's ethnic Turkish party during a televised conference. | A man put a gas pistol to the head of the leader of Bulgaria's ethnic Turkish party during a televised conference. |
| Ahmed Dogan, leader of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) was unharmed and the unidentified man was wrestled to the ground by security guards. | Ahmed Dogan, leader of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) was unharmed and the unidentified man was wrestled to the ground by security guards. |
| The incident happened on Saturday at a party congress in the capital Sofia. | The incident happened on Saturday at a party congress in the capital Sofia. |
| Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov said the attacker, himself an ethnic Turk, tried to fire two shots but "most likely the gun misfired". | |
| Early reports suggested the weapon was a gun, but it was later confirmed to be a gas pistol - a non-lethal weapon used largely for self-defence which does not fire bullets but which can cause serious injuries if fired from close range. | Early reports suggested the weapon was a gun, but it was later confirmed to be a gas pistol - a non-lethal weapon used largely for self-defence which does not fire bullets but which can cause serious injuries if fired from close range. |
| Mr Tsetanov also said the assailant had a criminal record for drugs possession, robberies and hooliganism. | Mr Tsetanov also said the assailant had a criminal record for drugs possession, robberies and hooliganism. |
| Police arrested the attacker, a 25-year-old from the Black Sea town of Burgas, who was also carrying two knives. | Police arrested the attacker, a 25-year-old from the Black Sea town of Burgas, who was also carrying two knives. |
| The liberal MRF party represents ethnic Turks and other Muslims, who make up about 12% of Bulgaria's population of about seven million. | The liberal MRF party represents ethnic Turks and other Muslims, who make up about 12% of Bulgaria's population of about seven million. |
| Mr Dogan, 58, has led the party for almost 25 years. He returned to the party conference a few hours after the attack and was given a standing ovation. | Mr Dogan, 58, has led the party for almost 25 years. He returned to the party conference a few hours after the attack and was given a standing ovation. |
| President Rosen Plevneliev said in a statement: "Bulgarian society is traditionally known for its tolerance, mutual acceptance and respect between different ethnic groups and religions. | President Rosen Plevneliev said in a statement: "Bulgarian society is traditionally known for its tolerance, mutual acceptance and respect between different ethnic groups and religions. |
| "Such an act is unacceptable in a democratic state." | "Such an act is unacceptable in a democratic state." |
| Attacks on politicians are rare in Bulgaria, but in 1996, former Prime Minister Andrei Lukanov was found shot dead near his home in Sofia. | Attacks on politicians are rare in Bulgaria, but in 1996, former Prime Minister Andrei Lukanov was found shot dead near his home in Sofia. |