“I explicitly declare that there was no explosive device or substance found in the van found at Sofia Airport,” said Senior Commissioner Georgi Kostov, Secretary General of the Interior Ministry, speaking for Nova TV.

“The persons, who entered the territory of Bulgaria by this van, are no longer here and they cannot be interrogated,” Mr Kostov remarked, adding that they had not been detained.

In his words, these are two people, who are not citizens of the EU but of a one of the former Soviet republics. He added that the two entered Bulgaria through the Kapitan Andreevo border checkpoint three days ago and had been staying in Sofia. Mr Kostov added that the two persons were known to the police.

“Within the security measures taken, there are regular patrols at the critical infrastructure zones. The patrols are reinforced by sniffer dogs trained to react to explosive substances. The dog of one of the patrols reacted, as a result of which the van in question was inspected with a mobile technical means, which also responded to explosive substance. Then a signal was filed to the specialised units for fight against terrorism. Another sniffer dog reacted to presence of explosive substance, too.

After an inspection with a more modern device, which also detected such substance, the authorities set to the procedures for rendering the vehicle safe,” the official explained.

“I can explicitly declare, however, that no explosive substance was found,” Mr Kostov remarked.

He commented further that the van was full of large amount of luggage, which was probably purchased for trade – perfumes, small electric appliances, and others.

“A following analysis will prove whether any of these cosmetic products contains substances that can mislead the sniffer dogs and the other technical means used,” Georgi Kostov said.

Speaking further of the people, who used the van, the Secretary General of the Interior Ministry explained that one of them took a flight to an EU country, while the other – to the former Soviet republic.

He added that both persons had risk profile.