Israeli Detained in Sofia After M16 Magazine Found Undetected at Ben Gurion Airport

An Israeli man traveling from Israel was detained at Sofia Airport in Bulgaria after security screening revealed an M16 rifle magazine in his luggage. The incident occurred over the weekend when the magazine was discovered during an X-ray scan, prompting local authorities to arrest the traveler. Initial investigations suggest the magazine was inadvertently left in the bag following the man's military reserve service, of which he was unaware.

The case raises serious concerns about security procedures at Ben Gurion Airport, as the same bag had passed through Israeli security checks days earlier without detection. This implies the magazine bypassed all security measures at Israel's main international airport undetected, only to be found later in Bulgaria.

Following his arrest, the man's family reported being unable to communicate with him or receive updates on his condition. The family, worried about the situation and potential scrutiny of his military service by pro-Palestinian or anti-Israel groups in Bulgaria, decided to return to Israel, leaving the detained man behind. After extensive diplomatic efforts led by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and his team, the man was released just hours before the start of the Sabbath.

He stayed at the local Chabad house in Sofia until his flight back to Israel, where he arrived at Ben Gurion Airport on Monday morning. Channel 7 reported that this is not an isolated incident; in the past week, Israeli ammunition components have been found in other European airports, prompting security agencies in those countries to seek explanations from Israeli authorities.