The Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office has confirmed that four people, three from Gostivar and one from Struga, were arrested during Sunday’s operation, adding that there is reasonable suspicion that they committed the crime of terrorist organisation (Article 394-a of the Criminal Code).
The prime suspect, the Office said on Monday, is a 21-year-old Gostivar man, who created and actively coordinated a terrorist organisation/cell, of which the other three suspects and other unknown persons from North Macedonia and abroad are members.
The organisation, founded on the ideological matrix of ISIS, intended to commit an act of terrorism against civilian, soft targets and public facilities, it was also pointed out in the press-release.
“At the start of 2024, the prime suspect formed multiple groups on Telegram, where he would state full readiness and intent to commit a terrorist attack, in addition to instigating others to commit terrorist attacks in Europe. In the groups, he would share previously obtained and translated propaganda material of ISIS, recruiting new members, attempting to get firearms, and sharing manuals on making improvised explosive devices that would later on be used to commit terrorist attacks,” the Office also said, adding that it had sought a 30-day detention measure against each suspect, which was accepted