Migrant hunter buys himself an armed helicopter to round up ‘potential jihadis’ after ‘being given immunity by Bulgarian government’ 

•  Dinko Valev, 29, gained notoriety last year for hunting down migrants in Bulgaria
•  He has now purchased a helicopter gunship which he will use in his patrols
•  Valev, who is reportedly backed by the Bulgarian government, claims all  migrants are 'potential jihadis'  

A migrant hunter who has had a bounty put on his head by ISIS has now bought himself a helicopter gunship to help patrol on the look-out for 'potential jihadis'.

Dinko Valev, 29, made a name for himself last year after posting internet videos of himself chasing down immigrants who fled into Bulgaria from neighbouring Turkey and war-torn Syria.

The former semi-professional wrestler was shown chasing terrified migrants through woodlands along with other armed vigilantes.

The films showed women and children forced to cower on the forest floor while the men were made to lie on their stomachs with their hands tied behind their backs.

But he became a hero to some Bulgarians and the government in Sofia has reportedly given him their support and helped him acquire two military amphibious troop carriers.

Now he has got his hands on a military helicopter, believed to have formerly belonged to either the Bulgarian or Russian air force.

Bulgaria's populist President, Rumen Radev, is a former Major General in the Bulgarian air force. 

It is unclear if Valev will fly the chopper himself but he wrote: 'We are ready to go' next to a video clip of him with the machine.

It is unclear if the helicopter, which has a large machine gun at the front and rocket housings on either wing, is actually operational.

Valev, who lives in Yambol, close to the Turkish border, has claimed every refugee is a potential jihadi and last year ISIS reportedly put a $50,000 (£38,000) bounty on his head.

Valev claims every refugee is a potential jihadist and once described his hunts, saying: 'I would describe it as simply a sporting activity. You can't describe sportsmen as violent.'

Six months ago he used social media to show off his brand-new £180,000 Mercedes S-Class Coupe and thanked his 'supporters' for making it possible.

Valev has shrugged off an investigation by prosecutors for inciting racial hatred, which could put him in jail.

State prosecutors in Yambol and nearby Sredets are reportedly investigating complaints that Valev and his men encouraged discrimination against migrants.

He is also being asked to explain how he has apparently become hugely wealthy on the back of his manhunt expeditions.