Assassination attempt on Bulgarian politician

While Bulgarian politician was holding a televised conference, an assailant came up on and he pointed a gun at him.

Ahmed Dogan, who is the leader of Bulgaria’s Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) Party, was giving a speech at a party congress in the capital city of Sofia.

An unidentified armed man suddenly appeared on the stage and held a gun to the leader’s head. He pulled the trigger, but the gun misfired.

While they were wrestling on the ground, security guards apprehended the assailant. Many people were punching and kicking him and he was bleeding.

The 25-years-old assailant, who had a criminal record for drug possession and robbery, was from Bourgas and the motive for the crime was not immediately known. He was also carrying two knives.

The gun was not an assault rifle and was a gas pistol used for self-defense but it could inflict serious injuries if it fired at close range.

The liberal MRF party represents ethnic Turks and other Muslims, who make up about 12 percent of Bulgaria's population.

Dogan has led the party nearly 25 years and was going to step down from his position.