Bulgaria faced real terrorism threat, independent MP Pavel Chernev said.

The threat resulted from the country’s participation in peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, Chernev told Novinar daily. Bulgaria’s EU entry was an important factor as well, he said.

It was a matter of time for terrorist organisations to target Bulgaria, Chernev said.

Georgi Iuroukov, MP from the ruling Coalition for Bulgaria, said that intelligence services lacked such information. Chernev’s claims were groundless, Iuroukov said.

National security strategies list terrorism as a possible threat, Iuroukov said. Since terrorism operates without borders Bulgaria’s intelligence should be extremely careful, he said.

Arab expert Vladimir Choukov said that Bulgaria is threatened as much as any other country taking part in Afghanistan and Iraq peacekeeping operations. Such claims should be avoided as they only panicked people, Choukov said.