Britain/Bulgaria: A British man taken hostage by bogus estate agents in Bulgaria was recovering from his ordeal yesterday after being freed in a deadly gun battle.
Chris Fanos had just arrived on a scouting mission looking for property to buy when he was snatched by the gang last week.
The 59-year-old was picked up from Sofia airport by an Iranian man he had contacted previously, but instead of being taken to see prospective purchases he was bundled into the car and driven to a tiny village.
The kidnapping only came to light three days later when Scotland Yard alerted Bulgarian authorities that the kidnappers had threatened to kill the Greek Cypriot unless his family paid a ransom.
The country's interior ministry said yesterday that police had soon managed to track the gang to their hideout in Vlado Trichkov.
There was a 48-hour stand-off before officers stormed the building last night, shooting dead one kidnapper who opened fire on them and arresting two others.
Mr Fanos - who lives in the UK and is a British citizen - was found to be in a "grave psychological and physical state", and was immediately taken to hospital for treatment, according to the interior ministry.
A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said they had been informed that a Briton was being held hostage on Sunday.
"Two officers were sent to act in a liaison capacity. Bulgarian police retained operational control at all times."
She added that the officers were not present during the rescue operation.
Expensive house prices in the UK and Bulgaria's impending membership of the European Union mean it has become a popular location for Britons who want to invest in property.
However, the state has previously been criticised for failing to tackle its network of organised crime. - (Reuters)