Macedonian police on Thursday introduced the arrests of 9 individuals suspected of belonging to the Islamic State group and stated they’re looking for an extra 27, following raids within the capital, Skopje, and a number of other cities within the northeast of the nation.
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Even so, around a dozen Albanians have reportedly been killed in Syria after swearing allegiance to Islamic State; Thursday’s raids were carried out in mostly Albanian communities. The detained are aged between 19 and 49 years. At least 16 Macedonian citizens have been killed in Iraq and Syria, while another 130 are believed to have taken part or are still fighting there, according to the ministry. During the search, police confiscated computers, phones, a gas pistol and financial receipts.
The operation, code-named Cell, exposed an alleged structure for recruiting Macedonian citizens into IS activities in several Macedonian towns – Skopje, Tetovo, Gostivar, Kumanovo and Struga. The locations included private homes, as well as offices of a humanitarian and an NGO group.
“According to our information he could be seen as the main ideological leader”, Interior Minister Mitko Cavkov told reporters.
Chavkov said there is a risk that IS supporters might organize attacks on Macedonian soil.
The United States Embassy in Macedonia issued a press release welcoming the police operation.
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Police said they were taking action to detain suspected participants in the wars in Syria and Iraq and would give more details once the operation is over.
