A Bulgarian politician today survived an extraordinary assassination attempt when a man stormed the stage and held a gun to his head as he was giving a speech.

Fortunately for Ahmed Dogan, leader of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, the weapon misfired giving him time to react and hit the would-be assassins hand out of the way.

Before he can attempt a second shot the unidentified suspect is tackled to the ground by security guards and delegates attending the conference in Sofia.

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Bulgarian politician Ahmed Dogan looks at the gunman as he holds a gun at his head and misfires

A 25-year-old man, pictured with a bloodied face after being tackled by security officials, was arrested at the scene

Two men stand over the gun that was used in the apparent assassination attempt

Television footage showed the man jumping out of the audience and interrupting a speech by 58-year-old Dogan, who has led the party for almost a quarter of a century.

In a split second, he raises the gun to Mr Dogan’s head but it appears to misfire.

The politician then knocks gone the gun away and falls to the floor as he attempts to flee.

Security guards and delegates rush onto the stage where they wrestle the attacker to the ground.

A separate group surrounds a shocked Mr Dogan in a protective shield.

Politicians then appear from the audience and begin raining blows on the suspect as he is pinned to the ground.

He was later pictured being taken away by police bloodied and bruised.

‘Ahmed Dogan is in good health. Everything is under control,’ Movement for Rights and Freedoms official Ceyhan Ibryamov told journalists.

Police said they arrested a 25-year-old man from the Black Sea town of Burgas who was also carrying two knives.

The liberal MRF party represents ethnic Turks and other Muslims who make up about 12 percent of Bulgaria’s 7.3 million-strong population.

Dogan is seen as one of Balkan country’s most influential political figures.

Two years ago he was acquitted after a high-profile corruption trial into payments he received as a consultant for a hydro power project.

The MRF was a junior partner in the previous Socialist-led cabinet before switching to the opposition following the 2009 elections.

In 1996, former Prime Minister Andrei Lukanov was found shot dead near his home in Sofia, though attacks on politicians are rare.

The unnamed man clearly had a security pass for the Movement for Rights and Freedom party’s annual conference

Mr Dogan reaches out to try and stop the gunman from targeting him during the assassination attempt

Mr Dogan is left to fend for himself on the stage after the gunman approached at the conference centre in Sofia

 

The unidentified would-be assassin is tackled to the ground by party members and security people

 

The scene became frantic as more people went over to help apprehend the man

The man is bundled across the foyer of the National Palace of Culture in Bulgaria’s capital, Sofia

VIDEO: Would-be assassin aims gun an Bulgarian opposition leader’s head