MUP ZDK lived up to the task: High-risk match required preparation, cooperation, verification of all information

(Patria) - With the excellent security of the international football match between the national teams of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Romania last night, the Police Administration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Zenica-Doboj Canton once again showed that it can rightfully be said to be an example of one of the most organized and efficient police agencies not only in BiH and the region.

"Given that the security of this match, which was assessed as a high-risk match and which certainly represented one of the biggest security challenges for the police structures of ZDK in recent years, special attention was paid during the preparation of the security plan to the conduct of police officers in the context of current events in the sports community of our country, and primarily to information that was linked to certain fan groups from Romania, but also from Serbia, which indicated the announcement of certain illegal behaviors and the incitement of fan and hooligan riots," the statement from the MUP ZDK reads.

All collected information was verified with utmost seriousness, and accordingly, special operational activities and actions of police teams were planned.

"In this regard, cooperation with other police agencies and security services was achieved at a very high level, which resulted in effective monitoring and supervision of all groups and individuals, as well as the prevention of any incidents or fan riots. Following the above, measures were specifically developed and planned for the security of visiting fans in order to ensure their maximum personal safety.

As confirmation of this, the fact that during and after the match, no incidents or cases of endangerment of the personal and property safety of fans, professional staff, and guests were recorded in the area of the City of Zenica and the Bilino Polje stadium speaks volumes.

As stated at the meeting of the Staff for Coordination and Direction of All Security Activities, which was held after the match and at which a comprehensive analysis of the entire operation was conducted, actions to determine the identity of one Romanian citizen were taken in only one case.

"As the public is already aware, a significant segment, as well as a novelty in the actions of the ZDK police, was the active enhancement of surveillance through the functioning of the video surveillance system, with more than 120 cameras deployed at key locations in the city and at the stadium, where a special team with drones, as well as special vehicles with integrated cameras for video and audio surveillance, were also engaged," say the MUP ZDK.

More than 500 police officers from the Police Administration of the MUP ZDK, members of the Police Support Unit of the Federal Police Administration, members of special police units and support units of the police administrations of the ministries of internal affairs of the Sarajevo Canton, Tuzla Canton, Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, Una-Sana Canton, and Central Bosnia Canton, as well as officers of the Directorate for Coordination of Police Bodies of BiH, were engaged in carrying out all activities to secure the sports event.

As part of the indicated activities, trained police dogs for action in cases of riots, and for the detection of narcotics and explosives, were also engaged.

In securing the match, the Police Administration of the MUP ZDK utilized all previously acquired knowledge, experience, and procedures, which require detailed and serious planning of every detail in all segments of the conduct and actions of police officers, and secured the indicated sports event in the best possible way, and provided and ensured maximum personal and property safety for all fans, professional staff, and guests.

"We especially thank all citizens and guests who recognized our efforts, acted in accordance with the orders and instructions issued by police officers, and contributed to creating a safe environment with their correct and sporting behavior," the statement from the MUP ZDK concludes.