Bosnia detains 11 for involvement in Syrian and Iraqi conflicts
SARAJEVO - Police in Bosnia on Thursday arrested 11 people on suspicion of fighting alongside Islamist militants in Syria and Iraq or recruiting and raising money for such groups.
More than 100 officers took part in the operation - codenamed "Damascus" - in five central Bosnian towns including the capital Sarajevo.
In April, the country introduced jail terms of up to 10 years for Bosnians who fight or recruit for groups abroad such as Islamic State. Hundreds are thought to have joined the wars in Syria and Iraq, along with other Muslims from across the Balkans.
"The detained are suspected of links with financing, organising and recruiting Bosnian citizens to leave for Syria and Iraq and fight in armed conflicts there alongside radical terrorist groups and organisations," Bosnia's State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA) said in a statement.
