Bulgarian Politician Avoids Point Blank Assassination Attempt

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**WarOne**

This is an amazing video to watch on two levels; the attacker had a brief window of opportunity he did not take advantage of and the politician's last second deflection with his hand that probably saved his life.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/19/bulgaria-gas-pistol-politican

A Bulgarian opposition politician narrowly escaped an assassination attempt during a televised speech on Saturday, when a man climbed on the stage next to him and pointed a gun to his head at point-blank range.

Ahmed Dogan, the leader of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF), which represents the Turkish minority in Bulgaria, escaped unharmed after his would-be assassin was wrestled to the ground by security guards, during the party congress in the capital Sofia.
bularia dogan push attacker Dogan pushed the man away before he could open fire. Photograph: Julian Savchev/EPA

Video footage showed that Dogan, 58, was able to push the man's hand away before security officials pulled the assailant to the ground, punching and kicking him before he was arrested. He was later taken to hospital.

Police identified the alleged attacker as Oktai Enimehmedov, 25, from the eastern coastal city of Burgas. They said that he was carrying the gun and two knives.

Tsvetan Tsvetanov, the interior minister, is reported to have said that the attacker tried to fire two shots but "most likely the gun misfired". However, other reports suggest that the weapon was a gas pistol, a non-lethal weapon used for self-defence, which can cause serious injuries when fired from close range.

The liberal MRF party represents ethnic Turks and other Muslims, who make up about 12% of Bulgaria's population of about seven million. Dogan, who is seen as one of the country's most influential political figures, was acquitted two years ago after a high-profile corruption trial into payments it was alleged that he received as a consultant for a hydroelectric power project. The MRF was a junior partner in the previous Socialist-led cabinet before switching to the opposition following the 2009 elections.
bulgaria dogan attacker police Enimehmedov was escorted away by security staff after being forcibly restrained by several bystanders. Photograph: Dimitar Kyosemarliev/AFP/Getty Images

Dogan, who has led the party for almost 25 years, returned to the 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. Such an act is unacceptable in a democratic state." The incident was the most serious attack on a politician in Bulgaria since Andrei Lukanov, a former prime minsiter, was found shot dead near his home in Sofia in 1996.

Having joined the European Union in 1997, Bulgarian citizens can move to the UK for work after temporary limits expire at the end of this year. Any Bulgarian who has been working legally as an employee in the UK for 12 months without a break will have full rights of free movement.

**nels1031**

Looks like a gun malfunction saved his life.

**Relapse**

I' ll be damned, the cops that got Rodney King found work in Bulgaria!

**Doctadeth**

To be honest, the guys beating the attempted assassin, looked like party members. The security guard was trying to stop the others beating the assassin. Interesting.

**Seaward**

Nothing like overfed politicians trying to throw a punch.

It wasn't a real gun.

**Doctadeth**

Again, a gas gun aimed at a headshot, you'd be looking at a serious head injury at least. If not partial skull penetration. See the Brandon lee death on the set of The Crow. Gas powered weapon killed the lead.

**Mannahnin**

Bulgarian media is full of stuff about it being not a real attempt, the gun not having been loaded, etc.

As I understand it, the MRF is frequently at odds with the Ataka party in a contest of who can be more extremist. Ataka being the nationalist/racist/anti-Muslim party.

**kronk**

That's what he gets for not using a revolver. They work 99.9% of the time...

**commisar rhodes**

I've got to say if this was'nt a fake his security is pritty poor i think i could probably kill him with deck chair before his security stoped me.

**KalashnikovMarine**

Someone's security detail was off on a drinking break

**Easy E**

commisar rhodes wrote:
I've got to say if this was'nt a fake his security is pritty poor i think i could probably kill him with deck chair before his security stoped me.

Well, they are the seurity detail of a minority party in Bulgaria at a Party conference where their charge is up on a public stage.

Cut them a bit of slack.

**btr75**

That guy must have felt like a fool having a malfunction like that. He knew there was a very high probability of going to prison or killed right after that.

**Wyrmalla**

That he was also caught with two knives and yet didn't think of them as a contingency plan kind of speaks of how poor an assassin he was. I mean he just kind of stood there confused when his gun misfired. Sure that was probably what most would do, but it hardly speaks of professionalism.

Given that it seems that being the most theatrical is the party' and its opposition's main goal it would seem, it being fake would explain that silliness. ...That he was then half kicked to death though would question this, but seeing as they're extremists I wouldn't put it past a party member volunteering to that kind of thing. In either case the whole situation seems a bit of a joke ( though this would be receiving totally different reception if the guy had been killed. ...We'll have to see if that was even a possibility if/when the details come out though).

**Tibbsy**

He's a lucky man, doubly so that the would be assassin wasn't particularly professional....

The best bit is the old fella at the end who comes in with the umbrella!