[REVISION HISTORY]

Crime and police activity in the Balkans

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2026-08-18 12:47 UTC → 2026-08-18 17:10 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Criminal activities and police operations continue across the Balkans, with recent reports highlighting hostage situations, cybercrime, fraud, and arson. In Serbia, details emerged regarding a high-stakes hostage situation in Uršini Selo involving an armed robber and Đevad Ljutić. Additionally, the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) has condemned direct threats sent via Facebook to journalist Biljana Stepanović, prompting calls for the prosecution of the individual responsible. In Croatia, authorities arrested four individuals—three Croatian citizens aged 42, 45, and 46, and a 33-year-old Polish woman—suspected of starting fires at ten locations in Zadar County. The arrests followed a citizen report of suspicious activity near Benkovac on August 15. Investigators believe the group acted according to a prior plan to endanger lives and property, using lighters and open flames on August 14 and 15. The fires caused significant damage, including the destruction of a vehicle in Bili Brig and 43 olive trees near Škabrnja. During searches, police seized a semi-automatic rifle with 44 rounds of ammunition, a pistol, and several mobile phones. The Croatian Office for Combating Corruption and Organized Crime (USKOK) has joined the investigation, which is also being examined for potential links to terrorism. Judge Hrvoje Visković of the Zadar County Court ordered one month of investigative detention for the ~~suspects.~~ suspects to prevent witness influence or flight, noting that one suspect holds dual Croatian and Serbian citizenship. The suspects reportedly partially confessed to lighting the fires using lighters and were under the influence of alcohol at the time. Milorad Pupovac, president of the SDSS, condemned the acts, warning that they could “fuel religious and national hatred.” While currently charged as a serious crime against public safety, authorities noted the legal classification could be upgraded to terrorism. ~~Other incidents include a high-speed chase in Zagreb, an attempted murder in Nin, and a 26-year-old man sentenced for assaulting a police officer in Vrbovcu.~~

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