Israeli Professor Murdered in Sofia Metro Elevator; Suspect Arrested

An 83-year-old Israeli professor of Bulgarian origin, Andrei Atanasov, was brutally beaten in a Sofia metro elevator on October 15, succumbing to his injuries a month later. The assault occurred at the Joliot-Curie metro station. Professor Atanasov, a respected lecturer at Sofia University's biology faculty, was found with severe injuries and taken to a local hospital in critical condition. Despite medical intervention, he later died. Following the incident, Bulgarian authorities seized surveillance footage from the scene. On Friday, November 13, Israeli police announced the arrest of a 32-year-old resident of Bat Yam, suspected of involvement in the murder. The arrest was made based on an international arrest warrant issued for extradition purposes. The investigation involved a joint effort between Israel's Ayalon District Police special unit, the intelligence directorate's operational coordination department, the state prosecutor's international division, and Bulgarian police. Evidence was gathered, and the suspect was apprehended. He is now awaiting a court hearing to determine his extradition to Bulgaria, where he will face charges related to the professor's death.