Пет тинејџери обвинети за напад и смрт на 37-годишник покрај Младинскиот рид во Пловдив

Five teenagers, aged between 14 and 17, have been formally accused of attacking a 37-year-old man near Youth Hill in Plovdiv, Bulgaria; the victim later died in hospital from his injuries.

Prosecutors in Plovdiv say the five suspects include three boys and two girls. Investigators believe the assault was planned in advance through communications on social media rather than being a chance encounter.

Organised meeting and online preparations

According to the investigation, the teenagers exchanged messages and arranged a meeting with the 37-year-old. One of the girls is alleged to have posed online as someone younger than her true age, which led to the arranged encounter.

Authorities say the group was inspired by online content associated with so-called "hunters of pedophiles" — individuals or groups who contact people they suspect of posing a danger to minors, arrange meetings, record interactions and publish the material. Instead of reporting suspicions to the police, the prosecution believes the teenagers decided to act themselves and confront the man.

At the agreed location the victim was beaten and sustained serious injuries. A passerby found him later and emergency services transported him to hospital, where doctors treated him but he died several hours after the assault.

Police and prosecutors launched an extensive inquiry. Initially roughly ten minors were detained while investigators established who had been present and each person's role. So far charges have been filed against the five most active participants. Investigators seized the suspects' mobile phones and have found communications and videos believed to be linked to the planning and execution of the attack; those materials are being analysed to determine individual responsibility.

The prosecution will ask the court to impose the strictest measure — pre-trial detention — for all five accused. The inquiry is ongoing as authorities work to establish exactly how the attack was arranged, who played which role and whether others were involved. Officials have also reminded the public that suspicions of crimes, especially those involving potential offences against children, should be reported to the police and competent institutions instead of civilians taking investigations or violent actions into their own hands.

Photo: press material from the event