Suspects in the arson attack on Starlink antennas were detained in Germany a few days ago, prime minister Rumen Radev told reporters in parliament. Earlier, an extraordinary session at which he and interior minister Ivan Demerdzhiev were due to be heard by MPs failed to reach a quorum.

The arson happened on 9 October.

The background: Mirchev: 11 Starlink antennas at secret site near Sofia set on fire

Radev praised the security services and the interior ministry, which he said identified the culprits within hours. They had already left Bulgaria. He said the ministry at once alerted the partner country so the suspects would be watched, and the European arrest warrant procedure has been sped up as much as possible.

The prime minister said the information could not be shared earlier. "If the interior ministry had made public the names of the culprits that we knew, they would have fled the country where they were," he said.

Radev added that the government had been called on to give information about the arson and had never refused a hearing. "We respect the separation of powers, and as the executive we cannot interfere in the work of the Bulgarian National Assembly," he said.