The police in Varna detained a 49-year-old man who, for about three months, had been broadcasting messages on the radio about the danger of radioactive contamination. The signals imitated a voice and wording resembling the national early warning system, investigators reported.
The broadcasts were made on a frequency of 430.7 MHz - a frequency used by Varna radio amateurs, BNT specified.
"This frequency is not publicly available and can only be used by licensed radio amateurs with specialized equipment," he explained in "The Day Begins" radio amateur from Varna Milko Lalev.
In addition to false signals of radioactive danger, messages with religious content were also broadcast on the air, as well as personal threats.
"Initially, a message appeared: Warning! Danger of radioactive contamination, without specifying whether it was a test or a training alert, which caused serious concern in the radio amateur community," Lalev pointed out.
According to him, severe insults and threats of physical violence against a specific radio amateur and his family were subsequently broadcast.
"Obviously, the cup ran over when personal threats with cynical and aggressive content appeared," he also said.
The investigation began after the victim reported the incident. As a result of joint actions by the police and the Communications Regulation Commission, the offender was located and detained. A search of his home found five radio stations, mobile phones and a laptop.
According to Milko Lalev, the man had the necessary technical knowledge:
"The messages were pre-recorded, the voice was changed using software, and then the recording was broadcast via a smartphone connected to a radio station", he explained.
The amateur radio community emphasizes that every radio amateur undergoes training and takes an exam.
"This exam clearly states what is permissible and what is prohibited on the radio. If this person was a licensed radio amateur, he knew that he was violating the law", Lalev added.
The 49-year-old from Varna has no previous criminal record and was not known to the police. However, pre-trial proceedings have already been initiated against him.