We have stated our belonging to the political part of the coalition against the Islamic State (IS) and support the international community's efforts to deal with the threat, interim Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov told the BGNES wire agency in an interview.

Mitov would likely keep his job in the regular government, according to media reports.

Mitov noted that the jihadist organisation “is no state, they are terrorists - people, who cannot call themselves a country in any way”.

“We must fight against such terrorist manifestations,” Mitov said. “This is happening just a border away from us. There is the risk that those people could start coming back to Europe or scatter in all directions and Bulgaria is one of their destinations. We must be prepared for this moment. What had to be done until now, is already done, but, of course, the level of preparedness must be upgraded.”

According to Mitov, the IS and its ideology must be defeated. “Radical Islam is a threat not only to Europe, but also to the Middle East and north Africa,” Mitov said. “Those countries must also have an active role. The money sources of the IS must be cut off. Their combatants must be hindered in all manners and when they try to run or travel, they must be stopped and prosecuted for their crimes. We must know who those people are and be ready to react in any moment.”