Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

21 years after the tragic attack

Honouring the Bulgarian heroes of Karbala

Photo: BTA

It is 21 years since the truck bomb attack on the "India" base in Karbala, which killed 5 soldiers from the first Bulgarian contingent in Iraq. 

In Karlovo, members of the 61st Mechanised Brigade paid their respects by laying wreaths and flowers at the monument to those who died in the fight against global terrorism.

In Ruse, relatives, friends and comrades-in-arms paid their respects at the grave of officer cadet Anton Petrov, who died at the age of 26.

The "India" commemorative sports event in memory of the fallen brought together military personnel and young people in Smolyan. For the first time, American soldiers took part. Among those attending the memorial event was Todor Stankov, the sniper from the Bulgarian contingent at the time, who eliminated the driver of the truck bomb.

We live with the memories, it is important for us to keep alive the memory of the dead, Todor Stankov told BTA.

On 27 December 2003, at 11:45 a.m., the base was attacked by a truck bomb. The suicide bomber's hands were tied to the steering wheel so that the machine could not stop even after the military opened fire. A powerful explosion followed seconds later. The attack claimed the lives of Major Georgi Kachorin, First Lieutenant Nikolay Saraev, Officer Candidate Anton Petrov, Officer Candidate Ivan Indjov and Officer Candidate Svilen Kirov.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

PM Rosen Zhelyazkov has invited King Charles III to visit Bulgaria again

Bulgaria's Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov has invited King Charles III to visit Bulgaria again , the Council of Ministers announced. The two spoke at the royal reception organized on the occasion of the Berlin Process summit in London , which..

published on 10/22/25 3:34 PM
Kostadin Kostadinov

Vazrazhdane party to propose law banning politicians sanctioned under the Magnitsky Act from holding high office

Legislative amendments banning individuals sanctioned under the global Magnitsky law from holding senior government or party positions will likely be submitted to Parliament as early as Thursday by the Vazrazhdane party, MP Petar Petrov told BNR...

published on 10/22/25 2:07 PM

The EP Liberals are set to investigate the arrest of the mayor of Varna

The Renew Europe political group in the European Parliament has established a working group to examine instances in which the Bulgarian government may have acted against the rule of law. The move comes in response to what the group describes as..

published on 10/22/25 1:37 PM