US to American Tourists: Stay Out of Bulgarian Strip Clubs
WASHINGTON, DC — It’s not uncommon for government officials to insist that adult entertainment venues are dangerous; after all, what could be more risky than a young, naked or mostly naked woman? Today, the State Department announced that, among all the strip clubs that Americans should avoid, those in Bulgaria are at the top of the list.According to the Associated Press, the U.S. Embassy in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia has issued a security alert for “gentlemen’s clubs.”
At issue is not the advertised entertainment or social opportunities to be found within the dimly lit interior, but the terrorist opportunities.
August and September saw two bombings and a shooting that resulted in serious injuries to patrons of exotic dance establishments. It is believed that the violence resulted during an ongoing turf war between rival gangs.
Earlier in the year, the embassy warned U.S. travelers against patronizing strip parlors after a number of patrons reported having been beaten up after refusing to pay enormously inflated prices for drinks and private performances.