Burgas port is closed because of the investigation into the drone attacks in the Black Sea, defence minister Dimitar Stoyanov told reporters. He spoke at events marking the 145th anniversary of the Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy.
Stoyanov said the parts found have not yet been identified. "The remains we talked about yesterday still have to be identified, whether they are parts of a ship, a drone or something else," he said.
What happened before: Drone debris found on the ship «Chelsea 3» in Burgas port
The military prosecutor's office has opened a pre-trial investigation. Investigators are looking for fragments and traces of explosives to find out what hit the cargo ship Chelsea 3. "After an explosion there are always remains of a projectile or fragments of the ship itself," Stoyanov said. Prosecutors will decide when to release the results of the expert tests.
Bulgaria is stepping up its watch over the Black Sea. A third unmanned surveillance system is already in the country, and the Bulgarian army will operate it. Its first flights are on 20 October, and it is expected to be deployed in the east by the end of the week.
Allied reconnaissance assets also take part in the surveillance. Bulgaria already has one reconnaissance aircraft, and two crews work on Bulgarian territory. Stoyanov said NATO is giving the support needed to monitor the sea and spot possible threats.
Meanwhile, a huge military plane has landed at Burgas airport, and fighter jets are patrolling the sky. The large aircraft drew the attention of Burgas residents as it flew low over the city. One likely explanation is that it is the US Boeing P-8A Poseidon, which already flies patrol missions over the Black Sea.
Military planes will fly more often along the Black Sea coast in the coming days. The minister said the flights are part of guarding the sea after the attacks on cargo ships, and that people have no reason to worry.