Bulgarian businessman shot dead on the street in Sofia

A wealthy Bulgarian businessman has been shot to death outside his company's office in the capital, Sofia.

Police say 49-year-old Petar Hristov was shot while getting into his car at 10 a.m. Monday. Eyewitnesses said the shots came from a nearby car.

Hristov was taken to a hospital but died of his wounds half an hour later.

"There are most likely business interests behind the killing," chief of national police Hristo Terziyski told reporters.

Hristov was the owner of a large dairy company but was also active in construction, real estate and tourism.

The killing comes only a week after Bulgaria took over the six-month, rotating presidency of the European Union, which the Balkan country joined in 2007. Ever since, it has been subject to criticism by Brussels for failing to efficiently fight corruption and organized crime.