Skopje, 15 December 2024 (MIA) – Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski said that four persons were arrested Sunday morning in Struga and Gostivar during a police operation. They are suspected of planning to organize events in the future that could threaten the security of Macedonia and other countries.

He said that the operation was carried out under the order of the Prosecutor's Office for Prosecuting Organized Crime and Corruption in relation to the detention of four persons.

Toshkovski explained that the operation was carried out based on an order from an investigating judge, with searches conducted at several locations. He stated that there are reasonable suspicions, and the Ministry of Interior has filed a criminal report.

“Four persons who have been detained are linked to terrorist organizations. They, in cooperation with individuals not on the territory of Macedonia, have been under surveillance by the relevant security authorities for an extended period, coordinated with international partners. We have substantial evidence supporting the reasonable suspicion that these persons were planning to organize certain undesirable events in the future that could threaten the security of both Macedonia and other countries. Their objective was to indoctrinate people from the Balkans to act in accordance with their goals,” Toshkovski said.

Today, the individuals who are Macedonian nationals will be brought before the investigating judge, and the necessary legal steps will be initiated.

“The crime for which charges have been filed is related to a terrorist organization, and regarding their motives, there are reasonable suspicions that they are associated with groups supporting certain extremist and religious ideologies,” Toshkovski added.

Photo: MIA archive