Kiril Rashkov, a notorious self-proclaimed "Tsar" and alleged mafia boss, has been transported to Bulgaria's capital Sofia after his Roma clan sparked unprecedented ethnic tensions in the country.

The so-called "Tsar Kiro" was escorted by police officers to the Balkan country's capital late on Monday, it has been reported.

Rashkov is currently in a "safe place", the Bulgarian National Television has informed. Journalists working with the state-owned TV channel are trying to track down members of the Roma clan.

Earlier on Tuesday, it was announced that taxation agents from Bulgaria's second largest city of Plovdiv have been accused of not properly inspecting Rashkov's properties.

Krasimir Stefanov, head of the Bulgarian National Revenue Agency, has ordered an investigation into the taxation agents who have apparently "skipped" checking how Rashkov was able to acquire his luxurious properties.

The murder of Bulgarian youngster Angel Petrov, who was deliberately run over by a mini-bus driven by one of Rashkov's relatives, according to witnesses, led to massive protests of the ethnic Bulgarians in the village of Katunitsa against Rashkov's Roma clan on Saturday, culminating Saturday night into the burning of Rashkov's properties by football hooligans from Plovdiv, which is near to Katunitsa.

On Monday, protests followed in many major Bulgarian cities, including the capital Sofia. More than 100 people in total were arrested by the police after the wave of rallies that unfortunately involved what has been perceived as ethnic hatred.

Some 3000 came together in Plovdiv, and another 1000 were in Sofia and Varna, with smaller rallies in several other cities, including Pleven and Blagoevgrad.

The protesters – who included football fan clubs and far-right groups, according to the police – clashed with riot police, gendarmerie and Civic Protection officers in Plovdiv, Sofia, Varna, and Pleven, with attempts being made in some cities to storm Roma-populated quarters.

Meanwhile, Roma population across the country awaited attacks, armed with shovels, axes, sticks, and guns at some spots, if protester accounts are to be trusted.

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