Operational and Strike Groups for Combating Terrorism in BiH Must Be Activated Immediately

At today's meeting of the heads of all security agencies in BiH, held in Banja Luka, ministers and directors concluded that the Strike and Operational Groups for combating terrorism must be activated immediately at full capacity, writes the Patria News Agency.

A call was also made to citizens for cooperation, peace and tolerance, and for preventing the spread of disinformation and rejecting hate speech.

- Terrorism and extremism pose a threat to the security of citizens and property in BiH. Therefore, it is necessary for all security structures in the country to focus their joint efforts in combating these phenomena through intensified cooperation and timely mutual exchange of information, is one of the conclusions from today's meeting.

The visit of Pope Francis to BiH and the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica are high-risk events, and it was agreed to intensify cooperation and coordination in the work and actions of police structures to eliminate all potential security threats and ensure the events in the best possible way.

- Due to the fact that citizens of BiH are participating in foreign battlefields, and their return to BiH poses a threat to the strengthening of extremism and new terrorist acts, it is necessary to intensify efforts to prosecute them in accordance with current regulations, concluded the ministers and directors.

It was assessed that large quantities of illegal weapons, which easily end up in the hands of potential terrorists, extremists, and criminal groups, represent a major problem that requires additional efforts to resolve throughout BiH.

- As the possibilities of social networks for the recruitment and enlistment of potential terrorists and their communication grow, the focus of security structures' work should also be placed on this area.

Ministers and directors of security agencies expect significant support from OSA, as a service for all police structures, in the fight against terrorism, extremism, and all other forms of crime.

A call was made for a stronger condemnation of terrorism and extremism and any attempt at radicalization, and for support for the work of security structures from all citizens in BiH.

- The activities of security structures are not directed towards any nation, but police structures work on preventing extremism, terrorism, and all forms of crime, protecting the human rights of all citizens of BiH - the conclusions state.

Who attended the meeting

The meeting was attended by SIPA Director Goran Zubac, BiH Border Police Director Zoran Galić, Director of BiH Police Coordination Body Mirsad Vilić, Minister of FMUP Aljoša Čampara and Director of the Federal Police Administration Dragan Lukač, as well as Minister of Internal Affairs Dragan Lukač and Gojko Vasić, Director of RS Police.