Assembly of TK discussed fan conflict near the airport, responsibility of police agencies demanded

(Patria) - The conflict between Red Star and Hajduk fans near Tuzla International Airport marked today's session of the Assembly of Tuzla Canton (TK).

The incident that occurred on January 24 opened a series of questions about security, jurisdictions, and systemic failures, which is why the item on the security situation in TK was included in the agenda.

- Unfortunately, security agencies at the BiH level, starting from the Border Police to the FUP, did not monitor this event, nor did they inform anyone so that we could react adequately. That is a failure.

We will seek a reaction and accountability from those who failed to do so, because far-reaching consequences could have occurred here - said the President of the TK Assembly, Žarko Vujović, writes RTV Slon.

Deputies warned that such a failure represents a serious security risk, especially due to the fact that the conflict occurred in the immediate vicinity of Tuzla International Airport, a facility of strategic importance.

- A recommendation remains to analyze this situation and take preventive measures to prevent it from happening again, especially because it is in the vicinity of Tuzla International Airport - said SDA deputy Muamer Zukić.

During the discussion, there were particular criticisms of state police and security agencies, which, according to the deputies, did not provide information about the movement of fans, even though hundreds of people crossed the border unimpeded and moved through the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

- For any lower-level match, fans are secured by the police. Here, we had people arriving via GP Kamensko, and no police secured them, and no one informed the MUP of TK, nor other agencies, e.g., SIPA. I did not receive information on where they entered TK - points out deputy Dževad Hadžić (SDP).

The Directorate of Police of the MUP of TK also confirmed that they did not receive any information about the arrival of fans, but that they reacted quickly to calls from residents of the Dubrave settlement, and that 93 people were arrested.

- You have noticed that we usually monitor these fan groups, we pick them up in various towns in TK, and in the last few years, we have not had a single incident.

In this case, we had no information that this could happen, because if we had, what happened would not have happened - said the director of the Directorate of Police of the MUP of TK, Elvir Mahmutović.

The Airport Director emphasized that the flight from Malmö was monitored like all other flights, but that nothing indicated that such an incident could occur.

- We monitored this flight from Malmö like all other flights. Upon reviewing the cameras, no passenger had any fan insignia. We held a series of meetings, no information came to us, nor to the Border Police, nor to the Armed Forces that such an event was being prepared.

I must say that all passengers were protected when this was happening, and with the help of the police, we ensured their unimpeded exit from Tuzla International Airport - emphasizes the director of Tuzla International Airport, Dževad Halilčević.

It was also pointed out in the Assembly that clear answers will be sought from the competent institutions at the federal and state levels regarding who failed in the chain of responsibility, and what measures will be taken to prevent the recurrence of similar events.