Bulgaria identifies bomber of Israeli tourist bus

Lebanese-born Mohamad Hassan El-Husseini, 23, blew himself up in Burgas in 2012, killing 5 Israelis, say officials

This image taken from security video provided by the Bulgarian Interior Ministry on Thursday, July 19, 2012, purports to show the Burgas bomber, center, with long hair and wearing a baseball cap, at Burgas Airport in Bulgaria, on Wednesday, July 18, 2012. (photo credit: Bulgarian Interior Ministry/AP)
This image taken from security video provided by the Bulgarian Interior Ministry on Thursday, July 19, 2012, purports to show the Burgas bomber, center, with long hair and wearing a baseball cap, at Burgas Airport in Bulgaria, on Wednesday, July 18, 2012. (photo credit: Bulgarian Interior Ministry/AP)

SOFIA, Bulgaria — Bulgaria has identified a suicide bomber who blew up a bus containing Israeli tourists two years ago as a dual Lebanese-French citizen.

The prosecutor’s office and the national security agency said in a joint statement Friday that the bomber was 23-year-old Mohamad Hassan El-Husseini, who was born in Lebanon.

The July 2012 explosion outside an airport on Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast killed five Israeli tourists, the Bulgarian bus driver and the bomber. Thirty-five people were wounded.

Last year, Bulgaria accused the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah of mounting the attack. It identified two Lebanese plotters as Meliad Farah, 32, who holds Australian citizenship, and Hassan El Hajj Hassan, 25, a Canadian citizen. Neither has been arrested.

An Israeli emergency rescue team examines the remains of a bus bombed by Hezbollah in Bulgaria in July, 2012. (Dano Monkotovic/Flash90/JTA)
An Israeli emergency rescue team examines the remains of a bus bombed by Hezbollah in Bulgaria in July, 2012. (Dano Monkotovic/Flash90/JTA)

Most Popular
read more:
If you’d like to comment, join
The Times of Israel Community.
Join The Times of Israel Community
Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Confirm Mail
Thank you! Now check your email
You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.