Search for 11-year-old Natalia continues, more forces deployed.

Law enforcement authorities are urging anyone who spots the wanted individuals not to approach them and to immediately call 112.

Following information that the two may have been in the area of Dalgopol, the perimeter around the town was searched with drones and thermal cameras, but at this stage the information cannot be confirmed. This week we are bringing in additional forces and expanding the search into neighbouring regions, Senior Commissioner Tsvetan Pirovski, director of the Varna Regional Directorate of the Interior Ministry, told journalists.

During the night, the search was carried out in the areas of Avren and Provadia, with reports checked until midnight using drones and infrared cameras. We are continuing the work; we have not stopped at all, including during the weekend. This is the leadership’s position, the senior commissioner said.

There is no one who does not know, so for the moment I think we have done enough in that direction and we are continuing with operational work on the ground, the police director said.

According to the investigation, 40-year-old Asen Antonov Simeonov, who has a criminal record and is the child’s former stepfather, broke into the family home in the village of Konstantinovo at around 02:30. He beat and tied up the girl’s mother, who suffered a broken arm. He then threatened Natalia that he would kill her mother if she did not go with him.

Around 40 minutes after leaving the home, the man forced the child to call her uncle and ask for help for her injured mother.

Law enforcement authorities again warned that if anyone spots the wanted Asen, they should not attempt to make contact with him and should immediately call 112.