A 32-year-old man from the central Israeli city of Bat Yam was arrested on Friday, November 13, on suspicion of killing an Israeli biology professor in Sofia, Bulgaria. Israel Police confirmed the detention of the suspect, who is facing charges related to a fatal assault that took place last month.
The victim, Andrey Atanasov, was an 83-year-old associate professor of biology at Sofia University. Local media reports indicate that he was found in a critical condition on October 15, 2026, inside an elevator at the Joliot Curie metro station in Sofia. Despite being rushed to a hospital for treatment, Atanasov succumbed to his injuries several hours after the incident.
According to reports from Bulgarian media, the suspect fled the scene of the crime in a rental car. He managed to leave the country before Bulgarian police could apprehend him. Investigators later identified the individual by reviewing footage from security cameras located near the station.
Israel Police stated in a release that officers from the Tel Aviv district carried out the arrest pursuant to an international arrest warrant. The suspect was subsequently investigated by state prosecutors working in coordination with Bulgarian police authorities. He is expected to be extradited to Bulgaria after a court hearing is held in Israel.
Sources within the Bulgarian interior ministry told local press that Atanasov and the suspect had a personal connection, having known each other for years. The attack on the elderly professor reportedly stemmed from a personal conflict between the two men.
Preliminary assessments based on the severity of the head injuries suggest that Atanasov was struck with a blunt object. The cause of death was listed as profound blood loss. However, as of October 17, a full forensic report had not yet been made public.
Atanasov had a long and distinguished career in academia. He served as a lecturer at the University of Sofia’s Department of Biophysics and Radiology, a position he held since the department's inception in 1972. His research focused on proteins and biological membranes, and he conducted studies in Germany, Japan, and Bulgaria throughout his professional life.
The arrest marks a significant step in the international cooperation between Israeli and Bulgarian law enforcement agencies in solving the case. The extradition process is anticipated to proceed in the coming weeks as legal procedures in both countries are completed.
