Israeli police arrest Bat Yam man wanted by Bulgaria over killing of 83-year-old in Sofia

Israeli police arrested a 32-year-old Bat Yam resident suspected of involvement in the murder of 83-year-old Andrey Atanasov in Sofia, Bulgaria. Atanasov, a former lecturer at Sofia University, was beaten to death in an elevator at a metro station in October. The suspect is expected to face extradition proceedings.

Israeli police arrested a 32-year-old Bat Yam resident on suspicion of involvement in the murder of 83-year-old Andrey Atanasov in Sofia, Bulgaria. Atanasov, a longtime former lecturer at Sofia University's Faculty of Biology, was beaten to death in an elevator at the Joliot-Curie metro station on October 14, 2026. He was found unconscious the following day and died of his injuries at St. Anna Hospital. Bulgarian authorities launched a murder investigation supervised by the Sofia City Prosecutor's Office. Investigators explored the possibility that the killing was motivated by a personal dispute, with suspicions centering on a financial disagreement, though the motive was not officially confirmed. Bulgarian police initially identified the suspect as a Greek national. According to a report citing a Bulgarian newspaper, the suspect and Atanasov knew each other for years, but their relationship deteriorated following a dispute. The suspect was arrested on Saturday and is expected to appear before an Israeli court as part of extradition proceedings to Bulgaria.