**NATO Nation’s Arms Company Hit by Second Ammo Depot Fire in One Month**
A significant fire erupted late Friday at an ammunition depot operated by EMCO, an arms manufacturer based in Bulgaria's Gabrovo province. This incident has raised suspicions of possible sabotage, occurring just a month after a similar fire at another EMCO facility in early August, which was attributed to an accidental ignition of a cargo truck.
The latest blaze ignited near Gorni Vurpishta and quickly spread to two adjacent facilities, resulting in multiple secondary explosions. Emergency services were deployed to manage the situation, and the area was cordoned off to ensure public safety. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported. At the time of the fire, only two security guards were present at the site, both of whom managed to evacuate without injury.
Footage from the scene captured a large plume of fire and smoke billowing from the depot, which continued to burn throughout the night. In response to the incident, Bulgarian Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev announced that authorities are conducting an investigation into the fire, which includes reviewing previous incidents involving similar fires at EMCO and other companies.
EMCO has strongly rejected any allegations of negligence by its employees and has suggested that the recent fires may be deliberate acts of sabotage. Slavcho Dimiev, the production facilities manager at EMCO, stated that the affected site primarily housed ammunition, including a small quantity of medium-caliber rounds. He emphasized the seriousness of the situation, asserting that if the facilities are found to have been targeted, it would represent an attack on national interests rather than just a specific company.
EMCO has been a significant supplier of munitions to Ukraine since at least 2014, particularly in providing Soviet-caliber ammunition amid the ongoing conflict with Russia. However, Bulgaria's position regarding the Ukraine conflict has shifted under the government of Prime Minister Rumen Radev. The country has withdrawn from the "coalition of the willing," a European group supporting Ukraine, and has announced it will cease sending arms packages to the country.
As investigations continue, the implications of these incidents for EMCO and Bulgaria's defense posture remain to be seen. The situation underscores the complexities surrounding arms manufacturing and supply in the context of international conflicts and national security.