ARRESTS OF WAHABBIS IN SOUTHWEST SERBIA

S E C R E T BELGRADE 000372

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/SCE and DS/DSS/ATA

E.O. 12958: DECL:03/19/17
TAGS: PTER KISL PREL SR
SUBJECT: ARRESTS OF WAHABBIS IN SOUTHWEST SERBIA


Classified by: Ambassador Michael Polt, reasons 1.4 (b,d)


1. (U) This is an action request for DS/DSS/ATA; see paragraph 5.


2. (U) Four men were arrested near Sijenica, in the Muslim-majority
Sandzak region of Serbia March 16, at what authorities allege is a
terrorist training camp for a group that was plotting to attack
moderate Sandzak Mufti Muamer Zukorlic and to blow up the Novi Pazar
mosque. The men were found with automatic rifles, explosives, and
RPGs. Local press reported that one member of the group remains at
large, and say their sources believe there are as many as 30 members
of this group that move around the Sandzak region, regularly changing
location. Rasim Ljajic, President of the Sandzak Democratic Party
(SDP) and a Zukorlic ally, told local media that the Wahabbis should
not be underestimated, and that the best way to combat their
influence is to strengthen the moderate Islamic community in the
region.


3. (S) Zukorlic, who told the press he is not surprised by the plot,
told emboffs there were 11 more men in the group, and that he
believes they are still planning to assassinate him. Zukorlic
believes the goal of these Wahabbis is to destabilize the local
moderate Muslim community. He told us he believes these men came to
Sandzak from Bosnia, not as part of the official Sarajevo Islamic
Community, but rather an extremist element likely funded and/or
supported from outside the country. He believes this incident
underlines the need for a unified Islamic Community in Serbia, as a
fragmented community opens the possibility of extremism.


4. (S) Interior Minister Dragan Jocic told the media that the
arrests show the determination and preparedness of state authorities
to prevent violence and terrorism. He claims this was a small, closed
group with well-trained members. We are preparing a statement
commending the MUP for their action. Meanwhile, the local MUP chief
in Novi Pazar told emboffs that police have found a second cache of
weapons and supplies, and that this second cache included MANPADS.


5. (C) COMMENT AND ACTION REQUEST: Zukorlic is in the middle of a
political tug-of-war with rivals in Belgrade for control of Serbia's
Islamic community - thus the references to the need to unify the
community. Despite some questions about his ties to Sarajevo,
Zukorlic has consistently been a force for moderation and engagement
in the Serbian Islamic community; he is politically closest to
Ljajic, but has also used his influence in the community in support
of Tadic in the past. In a March 16 meeting with the Ambassador,
Zukorlic requested assistance with training for his personal security
detail. This incident lends some urgency to that request. We would
welcome Washington's input regarding possible training opportunities
that can be made available to Zukorlic's security staff through the
ATA program or other means.

POLT