GSS members who found a mine on Prenj: This is all strange, it wasn't on the trail a month ago

I don't want to cause panic or accuse anyone, but everything surrounding the mine we removed on Prenj last weekend is a bit strange. I guarantee it wasn't in that spot 30 days ago – says GSS member Emir Turić (26), a member of the Konjic station, writes the BiH news agency Patria (NAP)

He and his older and more experienced colleague Mersud Mešukić prevented a major tragedy last weekend that could have occurred on the busiest trail on Prenj mountain, leading from Bijela towards Jezerc. Although they risked their own lives, they removed a personnel mine from the hiking trail, which threatened to kill hikers at any moment.

No one knows where the mine came from or how no one saw it earlier, or worse – stepped on it. According to hikers, the trail where the mine was found is the most frequented hiking trail on this Herzegovinian mountain. Rough estimates suggest that at least a hundred people pass through this trail every weekend.

The mine was found by hiker Armin Gazić from Zenica, whom Turić and Mešukić were waiting for on Prenj with a group of about 30 hikers from Zenica that weekend. But, only God's will decided that everything wouldn't go wrong.

- My colleague Mersud took responsibility. He is our senior colleague, who has experience as a special forces member in the former Yugoslavia. He handled everything at the highest level. He removed the mine from the trail, and then deactivated its fuse – says Turić.

- A month ago, I led a group of foreign tourists on this trail, and I sat right on the rock where we found the mine. There was no mine there then. I am sure of that. Because, if it had been under it, I would have either seen it or stepped on it – Turić tells NAP. He explains that the water couldn't have brought the mine. Besides, it's surprising that it was completely preserved.

- There are minefields about a kilometer away, but not in that part where hikers pass – adds Turić. He is one of the four Konjic GSS members who were the first to descend into flooded Maglaj by helicopter of the Armed Forces of BiH in mid-May to help evacuate the population. He has extensive experience in rescuing people, and he knows every rock on Prenj.

He says that the latest incident on Prenj is just another proof that one should not go to mountains, especially harsh ones, without a guide, whose experience can often save lives.

Although social networks are full of comments that hikers should not have touched the mine and should have waited for Civil Protection, Turić says it was too risky.

- It is clear that we risked our lives removing that mine, but we could not leave it there for even half an hour, let alone longer. We had to remove it immediately. We didn't have time to wait for Civil Protection or BHMAC. Besides, colleague Mešukić is so experienced that we all had absolute confidence in him – says Turić, writes NAP.