Suspects also accused of recruiting Bosnian citizens for war in Syria and Iraq

In the continuation of the operation "Damask", 11 individuals with initials F.H. (1957), M.T. (1958), K.O. (1982), E.L. (1975), B.T. (1973), S.I. (1986), S.K. (1979), H.G. (1973), R.I. (1953), S.H. (1986) and A.M. (1978) were deprived of liberty.

Searches were conducted at multiple locations in the areas of Sarajevo, Zenica, Kakanj, Maglaj and Živinice, with the aim of finding and temporarily seizing items that could serve as evidence in further proceedings.

The individuals deprived of liberty are suspected of committing the criminal offenses of financing terrorist activities, public incitement to terrorist activities, recruitment for terrorist activities, organizing a terrorist group, all in connection with the criminal offense of terrorism, as well as the criminal offense of illegally forming and joining foreign paramilitary or parapolice formations.

The suspects are linked to financing, organizing and recruiting Bosnian citizens to go to Syria and Iraq, and participating in armed conflicts in Syria and Iraq, fighting on the side of radical terrorist groups and organizations. Since the outbreak of armed conflicts in Syria and Iraq, the State Investigation and Protection Agency has continuously collected information and knowledge related to the departure of Bosnian citizens to the Syrian and other foreign battlefields.

After establishing the necessary facts and confirming the grounds for suspicion, at the proposal of the State Investigation and Protection Agency, the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Prosecutor's Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina issued orders for searches and deprivations of liberty that are being implemented today. The operation is the result of a multi-year complex criminal investigation that covered a large number of individuals linked to terrorist activities.

An operational headquarters for the operation was formed at the SIPA headquarters, coordinating all activities on the ground. Over 100 police officers are participating in the operation, which is being carried out in cooperation with members of the Intelligence-Security Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Ministry of Interior of Zenica-Doboj Canton, the Ministry of Interior of Tuzla Canton and the Ministry of Interior of Sarajevo Canton.

The individuals deprived of liberty have been brought to the official premises of SIPA, where they will undergo criminal processing, after which, in accordance with the instructions of the acting prosecutor, a decision will be made on their further status.

Today, SIPA members used tactical 5.11 uniforms for the first time, which were donated in the previous period by the US Government through the ICITAP program and the US Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina.