The protest in front of the National theatre was pre-announced and more than 60 law enforcement officers were dispatched to secure the theatre building, caretaker Interior Minister Atanas Ilkov said in an interview with public service TV BNT. After tensions escalated, additional forces were included to patrol the territory of Sofia, he said.

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The additional tension was generated by the inappropriate conduct of the theatre director who went out to talk to the protesters without appraising the situation – that there was tension outside the theatre building, Atanas Ilkov said. He should have coordinated his actions with the Interior Ministry so as to prevent the escalation of the tension, he said.