FUP Chief Srđan Mičić Reveals Who is Behind Digital Terror in BiH and How Children Are Radicalized Through Online Games

(Patria) - Guest on the morning program "Novi dan" on N1 television, Head of the Counter-Terrorism Department of the Federal Police Administration (FUP), Srđan Mičić, shed light on the background of the new wave of bomb threats that hit the Tuzla Canton this morning. Mičić spoke openly about who the real perpetrators of these acts are, the cost of false security, and also about new, disturbing trends of radicalization of the youngest through the internet.

Minors as "Digital Bombers": A Game That Costs the State Dearly

Although every bomb threat causes panic and requires immediate evacuation, Mičić confirmed for N1 that in the vast majority of cases, especially when it comes to schools, the perpetrators are minors. According to him, high school students are the most frequent actors who, using web services outside of Bosnia and Herzegovina, try to avoid classes or tests.

"Mostly, these are students who, let's say, play around a bit. However, this game mobilizes huge resources: from police officers securing the scene, through counter-sabotage (KDZ) teams, to investigators who must locate the sender," explained Mičić, adding that the costs of such operations are enormous, although the exact amount is rarely disclosed to the public.

Many senders believe they are safe using foreign email services, but Chief Mičić emphasizes that the police have developed channels of cooperation. Through Europol and Interpol, FUP investigators obtain "raw" digital traces, which they then analyze to identify the end-user.

Regional cooperation with Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro is crucial, as it often happens that the same person or group is behind a series of threats in the entire region. Although technical obstacles sometimes exist, Mičić states that most perpetrators have been successfully identified and prosecuted in previous years.

Artificial Intelligence and Radicalization in the World of Games

Perhaps the most disturbing part of the appearance concerned the misuse of new technologies. Artificial intelligence (AI) brings challenges in the form of generated photos and videos, which requires the police to constantly monitor the latest software trends so they can distinguish truth from digital manipulation.

However, the greatest threat screams from children's rooms. Mičić warns that children today are radicalized where parents least suspect – within online communities and gaming platforms. "Children are radicalized through social networks, and through games, peers or unknown persons persuade them to commit criminal offenses, such as hacker attacks. Parents often have no control over who their children talk to and which sites they visit," warned Mičić in the N1 studio.

Chief Mičić concluded his appearance on "Novi dan" with a clear message that the internet, despite its vastness, is not a lawless place. Every digital trace is recorded, and police agencies, despite rapid technological development, manage to keep pace in identifying those who try to destabilize public order and peace, whether out of childish mischief or real terrorist intentions.