SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina
Sixteen people were detained in Bosnia Wednesday morning on accusations of financing, organizing and recruiting Bosnians to take part in armed conflicts in Syria and Iraq, according to the State Investigation and Protection Agency, or SIPA.
Over 200 police officers from the agency, on orders from the Court and the Prosecutor's Office, began an operation codenamed 'Damascus,' in 17 locations across Bosnian cities of Sarajevo, Kiseljak, Zenica, Maglaj, Srebrenik, Zvornik and Teslic.
The suspects are claimed to be associated with the financing, organization and the recruitment of Bosnians traveling to Syria and Iraq to participate in armed conflicts in both countries, fighting on the side of "radical terrorist groups and organizations."
In a press conference held by the State Investigation and Protection Agency, Kristina Jozic, spokeswoman of the agency, said "Today's operation is the result of years of intensive work of SIPA (investigation agency) members and other law enforcement agencies."
Jozic added that they found large amounts of weapons and ammunition in the security operation.
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