A 23-year-old man has been charged with racist and xenophobic hooliganism against a foreign national, the Sofia District Prosecutor's Office said. He has been held for 72 hours.

On 10 October, near the Ivan Vazov National Theatre, the accused made monkey-like sounds and shouted mocking remarks at the foreigner because of his race, according to the evidence. He then followed him through the streets of the city centre, behaving aggressively towards him.

The prosecutor on the case has asked the Sofia District Court to keep him in custody. Prosecutors say the act was committed with exceptional audacity, and the law provides for prison terms for such charges.

Separately, prosecutors charged a 37-year-old man with hooliganism at a book fair in front of the National Palace of Culture (NDK) on 11 September. According to the evidence, he kicked rubbish bins, hit the fair's tents with his hands and feet, swore at passers-by and pulled down his trousers and underwear in a show of defiance.

The Sofia District Prosecutor's Office says the man acted as a dangerous repeat offender, because he has been convicted of the same crime before.