Sat, May 26 2012

14 unexploded missiles stolen from Bulgaria’s Chelopechene ammo dump

Sun, Oct 16 2011 11:19 CET

byThe Sofia Echo staff

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14 unexploded missiles stolen from Bulgaria’s Chelopechene ammo dump

Photo: Julia Lazarova

Fourteen 85mm shells have been stolen from the Chelopechene ammunition dump near Sofia.
 
Chelopechene made headlines in 2008 when a series of explosions rocked the ammo dump, an incident that led to a protracted and costly exercise to dispose of the dangerously unstable ammunition stored there.
 
The Defence Ministry warned that the shells that had been stolen were unstable and attempts to transport or tamper with it would be extremely risky.
 
Defence Minister Anyu Angelov said that there would be severe penalties for employees found to have committed theft.
 
The theft had taken place in spite of the fact that the area was under military guard, Bulgarian National Television said.
 
Angelov said that the shells had been scheduled for destruction but because of failing light, had been left for the following day.
 
He advised anyone who was offered the shells for purchase to contact authorities immediately.
 
He said that he had spoken about the theft to members of the community and mayors of surrounding villages.
 
Military prosecutors and Bulgaria’s Interior Ministry are investigating.
 
 

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