GALIJAŠEVIĆ: SARAJEVO AT THE CENTRE OF TERRORIST FINANCING AND ORGANIZATION

ISTOČNO SARAJEVO, OCTOBER 28 /SRNA/ - Radical elements from BiH have influence over Muslims in Sandžak, and all terrorist financing and organizing goes through Sarajevo, security expert Dževad Galijašević told SRNA after the terrorist attack in Belgrade.

Galijašević said the terrorist attack on the gendarme in Belgrade was politically motivated, but that Serbia has capable, organized security structures ready to confront terrorism. He said the current political situation in Serbia has stirred euphoria, and many terrorists are now slipping through under the guise of victory, but Serbian security services know that terrorism is not something to gamble with. He said BiH also has capable intelligence and security structures, but they are on the other side of the line, meaning they do not fight terrorism, but look for ways to downplay terrorist acts and to shield the perpetrators through intelligence and counterintelligence. He warned that BiH remains a key springboard for global terrorist organizations coming from the Arab world, which represent Sunni Muslims and operate in Europe, and that they act the same way towards Sandžak. Galijašević said there is no political will or readiness in Sarajevo to confront terrorism, while the situation in Serbia is different. Galijašević stressed that it is a misconception to think terrorists have gone quiet when there is no specific terrorist act. He explained that terrorist activities include spreading a radical, extreme form of Islam that advocates violence, as well as contacts, financing, organizing, exercises, training and preparations for carrying out operations, all of which happens in the background. He said there is always a political goal behind terrorism, and behind that goal an organization that sent the perpetrator, because terrorism is exclusively organized, politically motivated violence. "The minor who carried out the attack last night was known to the security structures. When you are monitoring someone, it is hard to tell whether they are carrying a knife in their belt. Aware that he is being watched, he behaves differently, moves in different company and diverts attention," Galijašević explained. Galijašević noted that minors have carried out terrorist attacks before, which shows how global terrorist organizations use minors for terrorist operations. A minor, believed to be from Šabac, attacked a Gendarmerie officer guarding the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade with two knives, shouting "Allahu Akbar". The officer killed the attacker in self-defense and sustained minor injuries. A red level terrorism threat alert has been declared.