SIPA: Four arrested for terrorism, made explosive device

As part of the international police operation codenamed "Benelux" conducted with police authorities of the Netherlands and Sweden, State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) police officers today arrested four individuals with initials A.R. (1979), O.A.S. (1962), E.DŽ. (1973), and A.Š. (1975). These are three citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina and one citizen of Sweden, it was announced from SIPA, reports the BiH news agency Patria. 

- The said individuals were deprived of their liberty due to grounds for suspicion that they committed the criminal offense from Article 201 of the Criminal Code of BiH, 'Terrorism', paragraph (4) in conjunction with paragraph (5) point a). They are suspected of having manufactured an explosive device in Bosnia and Herzegovina on order, with the intention of delivering it to one of the Scandinavian countries, which, according to available information, was intended to be used for the commission of a terrorist act - the statement reads.

Three individuals were deprived of their liberty in the border area when they were prevented from transferring an improvised explosive device across the border crossing in a passenger motor vehicle, where the device was found. One individual was simultaneously deprived of liberty in the Sarajevo area.

- Searches of facilities at two locations in the Sarajevo area are underway with the aim of finding and temporarily seizing items that may serve as evidence in further proceedings. These activities are being carried out under the orders of the Court of BiH and the Prosecutor's Office of BiH - the statement adds.

During the work on this case, close cooperation was established with members of the Intelligence-Security Agency of BiH, as well as with the police authorities of the Netherlands and Sweden, while during the implementation of the latest activities, cooperation was also established with members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Republika Srpska and the Border Police of BiH.

- The individuals deprived of their liberty will be brought to the official premises of SIPA, where criminal processing will be carried out on them, after which, along with the Report on the committed criminal offense and perpetrators, they will be handed over to the Prosecutor's Office of BiH for further proceedings - the statement reads.