Mirsad Bekdashevich, photos www.kathimerini.gr, www.ethnos.gr
On Thursday, special forces in Alexandroupolis arrested two people suspected of Islamist terrorism: 29-year-old Mirsad Bekdashevich from Bosnia, and a 20-year-old from Yemen. Both had Swedish passports.
The two suspects made the journey from Sweden to Athens last week, and then down to the Kipi border crossing in the Evros region, with Syria or Iraq as their probable destination. The Swedish authorities have not informed the security services in Europe about the actions of the two men.
On them, police found knives, mobile phones, cash, military fatigues and bus tickets. The police has filed charges against the men for illegal possession of arms, which was subsequently confirmed by the prosecution, and another one brought up – for membership in a terrorist group. According to the authorities, both men have links with Islamic terrorism.
On 19 October, 2005, the Bosnian was arrested in Sarajevo, in his aunt's house. The police then found a homemade suicide belt, 18 kg of explosives and a video with bomb-making instructions among his belongings. Another video was found, in which the Bosnian, along with a 20-year-old Turk, who was arrested together with him, were wearing balaclavas, sitting next to a pile of weapons and explosives, and threatening attacks in Europe as a revenge against countries having sent troops to Iraq and Afghanistan. The Bosnian had been sentenced to 15 years in prison and had served a portion of his sentence before getting political asylum in Sweden.
Back then, the two men were suspected of planning terrorist attacks against Western embassies in Sarajevo, and were placed under constant surveillance after arriving in the city on 27 September, 2005.