Three Moldavian nationals and two Arabs of unspecified nationality will be kept in custody for 72 hours, state-run news agency BTA reported, citing Siika Mileva, a spokesperson for the chief prosecutor.

The Bulgarian prosecutor’s office claimed, in separate statements, the defendants allegedly helped one of the suspects involved in the explosion to escape.

Türkiye´s security forces recently confirmed the arrest of 21 people, 17 of whom are being prosecuted, for their alleged links to the violent incident, considered a terrorist attack.

Among those arrested is a woman, who intelligence services blame for the bombing in Istanbul.

pll/mv/obf