The Balkan Chronicle

As a very strange development "29 Albanian Islamic radicals" arrested for the brutal murder in Macedonia

Macedonian Ministry of Interior today arrested the suspected killers of the five persons near a lake in the Skopje village of Smilkovci. The accused are the twenty nine ethnic Albanians from Skopje. Media emphasize that those 29 are the followers of "radical Islam," and majority of them are Macedonian citizens. Surprisingly, according to the media reports some of them even fought in Afghanistan against NATO coalition troops.

Many wonder, if that was the case, how come those people were not arrested earlier? Such questions make the whole development very strange, and many wonder what is next in this whole very unusual case of the murder of five innocent youth who were murdered while fishing by the lake, without any apparent motive.

What it could be seen in the videos released by the police, all of the "folowers of the radical Islam" were arrested during the sleep, without any resistance and, as it is apperent in the videos, with the full cooperation. Again, that raises question regarding the police version of the story about dangerous and unscrupulous individuals, "followers of radical Islam" who are ready to commit such brutal murders in cold blood, but offer no resistance whatsoever during all those arrests.

According to the Macedonian media, the Interior Minister Gordana Jankuloska said Tuesday that the Ministry of Interior will file criminal charges of terrorism and murder against the arrested peolpe, and after that public will learn more details about the whole case.

Based on material evidence from the Ministry of Interior whihc claims that those arrested are the perpetrators of grisly murders of the five innocent persons. Media even speculates that some of the arrested were directly involved in the murders near Smilkovci village. Jankuloska reportedly also said that among arrested, there are aslo persons for whom there is no information, but since they were found at the raids locations, they were arrested nevertheless.

According to the police spokesperson, a large quantity of weapons were discovered in the police raids of 26 facilities on the territory of the city of Skopje and its surroundings, in the police action dubbed "Monster" in which 800 policemen, Security and Counterintelligence Bureau and Bureau for Public Security participated. Police also claims they confiscated literature which for them points out to ideological affiliation of these persons and other items. Further investigated will show whether any of the seized weapons were used in the Smilkovci killings.

Jankuloska reportedly said that main motive most probably was their idea of killing in the name of "Radical Islam" and the goal was to create feeling of fear among the public.

"The motive is their idea, belief and following of Radical Islam, which is dangerous for believers of Christianity, Muslim religion, Jankuloska said adding that some of the arrested persons fought in Afghanistan and Pakistan against NATO troops," Jankuloska reportedly said.

She added that when it comes to terrorism the victims are not always directly connected with the perpetrators or with the motive due to which the criminal act is committed.

"We have suspected that in this case it is about murder where victims are not directly connected with any of the perpetrators however the intention of the criminal act was to create feeling of insecurity and fear of the population as a whole," Jankuloska reportedly said.

Asked by the journalists to give assessment on security situation in Macedonia and whether the country is facing with danger of Radical Islam and other possible terrorist attacks, Jankuloska reminded that Macedonia is part of the global coalition for peace and by number of citizens making it fifth according to participation of ARM peacekeepers in mission in Afghanistan.

"And by this the Republic of Macedonia is on the side of the countries that can be potential target of Radical Islamists. We are not underestimating the situation in not a single moment and we are not excluding possibility of Radical movement of individuals or groups. Members of police, Security and Counterintelligence Bureau and Bureau for Public Security are closely monitoring the situation, we act preventively and repressively because nothing should change the way we live, in peace and coexistence of all citizens in Macedonia, Jankuloska said, adding that situation is closely monitored, there are no serious changes however this should not leave us relaxed because it is obvious that followers of Radical Islam are prepared to most gruesome criminal acts and murderers, as it was the one in Smilkovci village" Jankuloska said.

Regarding the question whether this group is behind some larger terrorist group or acted according to someone's order, Jankuloska said that additional information will be presented in the following period.

Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski was informed about the police action "Monster" who visited today the Ministry of Interior.

Jankuloska thanked all citizens who gave useful information, especially all policemen who worked constantly and to media that reported correctly in connection to the event.

On April 13, Filip Slavkovski, Aleksandar Nakevski, Cvetanco Acevski and Kire Trickovski, namely in their late teens and twenties, as well as Borce Stefkovski – who was a 45-year-old man, were brutally murdered on the shore near the village of Smilkovci. They were killed by automatic weapons at close range.

One day later police confirmed that "Opel Omega" vehicle found 10km from the murder site was used in the crime near Skopje village of Smilkovci.