VZCZCXRO7030
OO RUEHAST
DE RUEHBW #1460 2541419
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 111419Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY BELGRADE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9333
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS BELGRADE 001460 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER CASC PGOV PREL MW
SUBJECT: MONTENEGRO ARRESTS 14, INCLUDING THREE U.S. 
CITIZENS, IN CONNECTION WITH TERRORISM 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE HANDLE ACCORDINGLY 
 
Ref: Podgorica-Ops Ctr (Carlson-Kozlowski) e-mail, 9/9/06 
 
This is a Podgorica cable. It has not been cleared with 
Embassy Belgrade. 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: On the morning of Saturday, September 9, 
at about 10:00 local time, Montenegrin police raided 
dwellings in the locality of Tuzi, to the southeast of the 
capital Podgorica, in a largely ethnically Albanian 
community. Fourteen persons were taken into custody, 
including three U.S. citizens. Five others, including at 
least two reportedly with U.S. visas, are fugitive. Post 
was promptly informed of the arrests by the Government of 
Montenegro and by concerned relatives and neighbors of 
those arrested.  Chief of Montenegro's Police Veselin 
Veljovic told post officers that the raid was directed 
against a group of Albanian extremists that included 
American-Albanians, and seized a large cache of weapons. 
Those detained are being arraigned before the local 
magistrate on September 11. Opposition parties have called 
the timing of the arrests politically-motivated, coming the 
day before the parliamentary vote.  End summary. 
 
Warning, Surveillance and Prevention 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶2. (SBU) On September 9, Montenegrin Police Chief Veselin 
Veljovic told post officers that his force had acted that 
morning to prevent imminent attacks in the Tuzi (Podgorica) 
region by Albanian extremists.  Police raids on several 
dwellings in and around Tuzi had resulted in the seizure of 
a large cache of weapons and explosives, reportedly 
including Chinese-made automatic- and semi-automatic 
weapons, sniper scopes, explosives, bombs, antitank 
weapons, Albanian and UCK (Kosovo Liberation Army) flags, 
maps, full-face masks, protective vests, and other military 
equipment.   Material hostile to pro-Government Albanian 
politician Ferhat Dinosa was also found. Fourteen persons, 
including three U.S. citizens, were arrested; consular 
access to the U.S. citizens has been requested, and will be 
reported septel. Police said five others, including two 
reportedly with U.S. residence permits, fled; post will 
forward details as available on the fugitives through U.S. 
law enforcement channels. Note:  Our information is that 
all arrested were Catholic Albanians, not Muslims; about 
30% of Montenegro's Albanians are (nominally) Catholic; 70% 
are (nominally) Muslim. End note. 
 
3.(SBU) Veljovic said the raid was the culmination of 
several months of surveillance, under warrant from the 
Supreme State Prosecutor, and informed by data from several 
friendly foreign intelligence services.  Veljovic said the 
group planned to attack police and other Montenegrin 
government facilities in and near Tuzi, on Sunday September 
10, which was the date of Republic-wide parliamentary 
elections in Montenegro. 
 
¶4. (SBU) After detention in Podgorica's Security Center 
(police station), those arrested (including the Americans) 
are being arraigned before the Basic Court of Podgorica on 
September 11. Charges will be reported septel. After 
arraignment, they will be held in the main detention 
facility at Spuz, Montenegro. 
 
Political Football 
------------------ 
 
¶5. (U) Local opposition politicians reacted harshly to the 
raid. Leader of the Opposition Predrag Bulatovic (Socialist 
People's Party- SNP) criticized the raid's timing, one day 
before Republic-wide parliamentary voting. Movement for 
Changes (PzP) leader Nebojsa Medojevic voiced similar 
sentiments.  The new Albanian Alternative party said the 
raid was an unjustified failure and an attempt to 
intimidate Albanian voters. The GoM rejected allegations 
that the action was politically motivated. 
 
POLT