On the day of national mourning, when Bulgaria mourned the 16 who died in the bus accident near Yambol on May 28, top police officials were seen celebrating loudly in the centre of Sofia, Bulgarian daily Vsekiden said.

The party was said to have taken place at the Continental Plaza restaurant, according to Vsekiden.

The party was said to have been organised to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Ventsislav Rangelov, head of an arms control unit of the Interior Ministry. The party was said to have been combined with a fundraiser for children of police officers who died in the line of duty.

Allegedly, guests included Deputy Interior Minister Roumen Andreev, senior police officials, footbal star Hristo Stoichkov and Serbian pop-folk singer Miroslav Ilic, among others.

The press centre of MP Yane Yanev's Order, Law and Justice party said it had received complaints from concerned citizens about the party.

The Order, Law and Justice party said the Audi of Interior Minister Mihail Mikov had been seen outside the restaurant. The Interior Ministry denied Mikov had been present at the party, saying that Mikov no longer drives the Audio, but now has a black Mercedes.
Rangelov was quoted by BGNES as saying that nothing wrong had happened.
"We are saddened by what has happened, but we do this for the children of our fallen colleagues," Rangelov was quoted as saying.

"Let us organise PR campaigns for things that are truly noble," Rangelov was quoted as saying.

"No reasonable person can be untouched by the tragedy of what has happened, but this event took months of preparation," Rangelov was quoted by Vsekiden as saying.