Interior Minister Ivan Demerdzhiev said a suspect in the killing of a dog in Sofia’s Krastova Vada district is currently being held at the SDVR office with his lawyer. Demerdzhiev said the suspect will be detained and will be escorted to the 04th District Police Department to carry out the necessary actions. “Violence against defenceless animals cannot be ignored,” the minister wrote in a Facebook post. He said cruelty to animals is unacceptable and is a red flag for a tendency toward violence against people. Demerdzhiev added that the police responded immediately after a signal about an allegedly killed puppy. He said the suspect was identified and placed on the wanted list because he was hiding. The case sparked strong public anger, with around 1,000 people gathering in a protest outside the suspect’s home the night before. As of the latest update, the suspect is in police custody and is set to be taken to the 04th District Police Department for further procedures.