A court in Haskovo has ordered a 59-year-old German man to stay in custody on a European arrest warrant from Germany, the court's press office said. He was detained on 7 October as he entered Bulgaria at the Kapitan Andreevo border crossing.

Haskovo District Court ordered the detention at the request of the Haskovo District Prosecutor's Office. A court in Kiel issued the warrant over an offence in the town of Norderstedt, classed as grievous bodily harm. German law sets a penalty of up to 15 years in prison or life for such an offence.

According to the warrant, the man decided to kill his wife and ordered nine roots of blue monkshood, which is highly toxic even in small doses. He made muesli for breakfast in a kitchen blender and served his wife the bowl and a coffee. She developed symptoms of poisoning and was treated in hospital.

The court found that the warrant meets all the requirements of Articles 36 and 37 of the Extradition and European Arrest Warrant Act. It said the prosecutors' request is admissible and well founded, although the man poses no risk of committing a crime in Bulgaria.

The court said he may try to flee to avoid being handed over to the country that issued the warrant. It also noted that the penalties are heavy and that the man is a foreign national with no ties to Bulgaria. The detainee says he was travelling of his own free will to the country that is seeking him. The court said the only way to ensure he takes part in the main extradition proceedings is to keep him in custody.

The ruling can be appealed or challenged by prosecutors within three days before the Plovdiv Court of Appeal. If that happens, a hearing will be held on 20 October 2026 at 10:00.

Earlier the same day, Haskovo District Court ordered a 43-year-old Sri Lankan national held in temporary custody for up to 40 days. He is wanted through Interpol for extradition over a murder case.