Bosnian intelligence agencies draft list of 741 terrorist suspects

Bosnian intelligence agencies draft list of 741 terrorist suspects
BBC Monitoring - July 7, 2004

Text of report by M. Cubro: "FOSS list contains names of 741 individuals" by Bosnian Serb newspaper Nezavisne novine on 7 July

Sarajevo: "B-H Bosnia-Hercegovina intelligence agencies have a list of 741 people that could be linked to terrorist activities," a source close to Sfor NATO-led Stabilization Force told Nezavisne novine.

"The list of 741 people who could be connected to terrorist activities was drafted by the B-H Federation Intelligence Service FOSS two years ago. I believe that this is the best source of information ever provided by a local institution on people linked to radical Islamic organizations. The FOSS' list is used by most of foreign intelligence agencies combating global terrorism," the source said.

The FOSS has gathered intelligence on all the people from the list including their origin, date and manner of entering Bosnia-Hercegovina, as well as their mutual links.

"The list has probably been changed, as we have indications that several people who are 'interesting' from the aspect of security have entered Bosnia-Hercegovina since October last year," the source said.

Associated Press has recently published statements by several foreign intelligence sources claiming that Islamic extremists who participate in terrorist activities worldwide have been recruited and trained in Bosnia-Hercegovina. Associated Press also said that its journalists had seen a film about terrorist training in Bosnia-Hercegovina. However, B-H state institutions have no such information.

"We lack institutions that would tackle such issues, but are convinced that we will have them soon. If I had any information, I would do my best to track down those people and put them behind bars," said B-H Security Minister Barisa Colak yesterday. He added that it did not mean there were no terrorists in Bosnia-Hercegovina but only that the B-H Security Ministry did not have such information.

The B-H Federation Interior Ministry has operational information on some individuals that could possibly be involved in illegal activities.

"I cannot talk about whether it refers to 50, 100, 300 or 700 people, but we have learned certain things of which I cannot speak as it is operational information. We are required by law to fight against terrorism and we are doing it on a daily basis," said Robert Cvrtak, spokesman for the B-H Federation MUP Interior Ministry .

Formally, Bosnia-Hercegovina has the State Information and Protection Agency SIPA , which is in charge of fight against terrorism, but it has not yet started operating.

"We have no such information, because we have not yet started working. We are still unable to form teams tasked with combating terrorism, but I hope the situation will soon be different," said SIPA Director Sredoje Novic.

SOURCE: Nezavisne novine, Banja Luka, in Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian 7 Jul 04 p 2

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