U.S. citizens in Bulgaria should be aware that the release of declassified photos of U.S.- or coalition-held prisoners from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts could prompt anti-U.S. protests and violence against U.S. interests including private U.S. citizens. The photos are being released as part of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. We remind you of our Worldwide Travel Alert and our Worldwide Caution that urges travelers to exercise particular caution when traveling abroad.
All U.S. visitors or residents in Bulgaria should be aware of their local security situation, and take appropriate steps to bolster their personal security. There is a continuing threat in Europe from persons planning attacks inspired by major terrorist organizations but conducted on an individual basis.
U.S. citizens are encouraged to monitor media and local information sources and factor updated information into personal travel plans and activities. Specific safety concerns should be addressed to Bulgarian law enforcement authorities who are responsible for the safety of all visitors to Bulgaria.
For further information:
- See the State Department’s travel website for the Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and Bulgaria Country Specific Information.
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
- Contact the U.S. Embassy in Bulgaria, located at 16 Kozyak St., Sofia 1408, at (+359 2) 937-5100, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. After-hours emergency number for U.S. citizens is (+359 2) 937-5101; fax (+359 2) 937-5209. The website is https://bg.usembassy.gov.
- Call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
- Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
