Israeli police arrest Bat Yam man wanted by Bulgaria over killing of 83-year-old in Sofia
Andrey Atanasov, 83, a longtime lecturer at Sofia University’s Faculty of Biology, was beaten to death in an elevator at a Sofia metro station in October.
On October 14, 2026, an 83-year-old Israeli man, Andrey Atanasov, was beaten to death inside an elevator at Sofia's Joliot-Curie metro station. Bulgarian authorities launched a murder investigation, revealing the victim had been a longtime lecturer at Sofia University's Faculty of Biology.
Upon discovering Atanasov's unconscious body on October 15, he was rushed to St. Anna Hospital in Sofia, where he later died from his injuries. Bulgarian authorities subsequently identified a suspect, believed to be a Greek national with a history of personal and financial disputes with Atanasov.
The suspect was declared wanted and subsequently arrested by Israeli police on Saturday. Israeli police, in cooperation with Bulgarian authorities, were working towards the extradition of the suspect to face charges in Bulgaria.
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