A 24-year-old man from Kameno, charged with extortion, will stay in custody. Burgas District Court ordered him held in custody, Burgas regional police (ODMVR) said. The man has a criminal record.

Police say he made people take out consumer loans in their own names from various banks and lenders and hand the money to him. In return, he promised to pay the instalments. Some victims took out more than one loan. When they came to him about the payments, he threatened or attacked them.

Investigators say the man used coercion and extortion, and inflicted bodily harm, to get money and property.

Detectives from the criminal police department of Burgas regional police and from the Kameno district police station arrested him, helped by the Specialised Police Forces unit. During the operation, officers questioned many witnesses and carried out searches and seizures. The man was charged and was first held for 48 hours at the regional arrest unit at Burgas prison.

Kameno district police are leading the investigation, and Burgas District Prosecutor's Office is supervising it.

Police are receiving more reports from alleged victims, and these are being added to the Kameno investigation.

Follow-up: More victims contact police over Kameno man, 24, accused of loan extortion