Smith: Hello, Mr Dimitrov, my name is Special Agent Smith and I am here on behalf of the United States of America, which, in conjunction with the Bulgarian police, is investigating the St Nedelya Church attack. I’d like to thank you for your time and would also like to reaffirm that we are speaking to you strictly as a witness and in no way suspect you had any involvement in the attack. Do you understand?

Dimitrov: I do.

Smith: And are you willing to provide me with your recollections of the moments leading up to the attack and after the attack, so as to help us identify the attackers and stop further acts of this nature?

Dimitrov: I am.

Smith: And do you swear to provide a true and accurate version of these events, to the best of your knowledge?

Dimitrov: Yes.

Smith: Sorry about all that stuff, just a formality. Can you start by telling me why you were at the church yesterday?

Dimitrov: For mass. I go to the Friday-night mass because I like to sleep in on Sunday. Sunday is the only day I don’t have work, so I like to go out on Saturday night. Hit the town.

Smith: Fair enough. I understand that you exited the church just before the attack. Can you tell me why you left?

Dimitrov: Yes. I got there before the start, maybe ten minutes early. I took a seat at the back. Many of the older people have no jobs and get there very early, even at four o’clock. Anyway, my phone rang, maybe after five minutes or so. That was embarrassing because you are supposed to have them turned off, but my boss tells me never to turn it off, so I keep it on. So I stood up, answered the phone, told my boss to hang on a moment, and went outside.

Smith: And you made it outside?

Dimitrov: Yes.

Smith: And what happened next?

Dimitrov: I spoke to my boss. I told him I’d got a good price for the apartment. He said ‘Good job’ and I hung up.

Smith: And what happened when you ended the call?

Dimitrov: I went to go back into the church, but the doors were closed. I thought that was strange because the doors are never closed.

Smith: So what did you do?

Dimitrov: I knocked on the door and shouted hello. And then I heard the screams.

Smith: Screams?

Dimitrov: Yes. I knew then that something was wrong, so I ran away. Not because I am a coward, but to get help. And then . . . boom!

Smith: Okay. Let’s back up a bit. Did you see anyone standing near the door when you walked out? Someone who stood out?

Dimitrov: Yes. I’ll never forget this face. And I’m sure he was the bomber.

Smith: What did he look like?

Dimitrov: He was a big man, like a bouncer. And he had no eyebrows.