Bulgarian court orders reinvestigation of Palestinian fugitive’s death

The Bulgarian Court of Cassation has ordered a new investigation by a different team of officials into the death of Omar Nayef Zayed. The Palestinian fugitive was assassinated inside the Embassy of Palestine in Sofia on 26 February last year.

Zayed’s family appealed against the findings of the coroner’s report which claimed that he was responsible for his own death. The family said that it has obtained new evidence that was not included in the final report. It is this which has prompted the court to reopen the case.

The Palestinian Authority stands accused by Zayed’s family of putting pressure on the 53-year old to leave the embassy by offering him sums of money. He had taken refuge inside the building after he was pursued for extradition by Israel, where the authorities accused him of terrorist activities. It was claimed at the time that “Mossad spies” had murdered him in Bulgaria.