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{{Infobox civilian attack
'''Mostar terrorist attack''' occured on 18 September 1997 in a ] city of ] in ]. In the attack, 29 persons were seriously or easily wounded, 120 apartments were destroyed, as well as 120 vehicles. The attack was carried out by ] as a revenge to the ] (HVO). The terrorist attack in Mostar was the most serious one in the country.
| title = 1997 Mostar car bombing
| partof =
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| map = {{Location map | Bosnia and Herzegovina
| width = 250
| label = Mostar
| lat_deg = 43.339554
| lon_deg = 17.8212405
}}
| map_size =
| map_alt =
| map_caption =
| location = ], ]
| target = Croat civilians and police
| coordinates = {{coord|43|20|52.18|N|17|48|07.84|E|region:US-NY_type:event|display=inline,title}}
| date = {{start date|1997|09|18|df=y}}
| time = 23:40
| timezone = ]
| type = ] attack
| fatalities = None
| injuries = 29
| victims = <!-- or | victim = -->
| perpetrators= ]
| susperps = <!-- or | susperp = -->
| weapons =
| numparts = <!-- or | numpart = -->
| dfens = <!-- or | dfen = -->
| motive = Religious motives, retribution against the ]
| website = <!-- URL|example.com}} -->
}}

A ] exploded in ], ] on 18 September 1997, injuring 29 people and destroying or damaging 120 apartments, as well as 120 vehicles. The attack was carried out by ]-connected ], and targeted Croatian civilians and policemen as retribution against the ] (HVO), which had fought Muslim forces for control of the city during the ]. It remains the most serious terrorist attack in post-war Bosnia and Herzegovina.


== History == == History ==


The terrorist attack was carried out with a car bomb in western ] (with ] majority) in front of the police station and the building of the former Ministry of Internal Affairs of the ] on 18 September 1997. In the attack, 29 people were seriously or easily wounded, among them were three policemen.{{sfn|Hercegovina.info|18 September 2014}} The explosion created a crater 240 cm wide and 85 cm deep. In total, 120 apartments were destroyed, of which 56 completely, as well as 120 vehicles,{{sfn|Bljesak.info|29 September 2012}} of which 46 completely.{{sfn|Hercegovina.info|18 September 2014}} On 18 September 1997, a ] exploded on Splitska Street, in front of a police station in majority-Croat western ]. During the ], the building had housed the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the ]. Twenty-nine people were either seriously or lightly wounded in the attack, including three police officers.{{sfn|Hercegovina.info|18 September 2014}} The explosion created a crater {{convert|240|cm}} wide and {{convert|85|cm}} deep. In total, 120 apartments sustained some level of damage, of which 56 were completely destroyed. About 120 vehicles were also affected,{{sfn|Bljesak.info|29 September 2012}} including 46 that were completely destroyed.{{sfn|Hercegovina.info|18 September 2014}}


The attack was organized by ], originally from ],{{sfn|Free Republic|30 September 2001}} with his associates, ] from ],{{sfn|ISN|26 June 2009}} ], nicknamed Abu Yemen, ] and ] from the ].{{sfn|Lučić|2001|p=132}} Handala and his associates were all linked to ].{{sfn|Maroević|28 April 2015}} Prior to the attack, Handala and Ali Hamad visited Mostar on 11 September, a week before the attack, in order to research the situation and confirm where they would plant the car bomb several days later. The very same day, Saleh Nedal was issued a Bosnian passport by the Ministry of Interor.{{sfn|Lučić|2001|p=132}}
First to arrive at the scene was the ]. The investigation started a day later, and was carried out by criminal police of the ] with help from experts from ] and ].


Immediately after the attack, domestic and foreign security agencies engaged in search for the preparators. ] politicians and media accused Croats for the attack. As the terrorist attack occured not long after the Croat and Bosniak city police was united and after the ] secured victory at the general election, members of the peacekeeping forces saw three motives for the attack. A political motive was explained as an attack at the "newly established police forces stationed at the Police station in Mostar"; the criminal motive was explained as a possibility that "mafia" wanted to show their strength after latest arrests; and the terrorist motive was explained as a goal to create casualties as much as possible and largest material damage as possible. The latter motive was least considered as a possibility, as peacekeeping forces expected taking responsibility by the terrorists soon after the attack. The doubts of the peacekeeping forces were proven wrong later.{{sfn|Krešić|20 September 2011}} NATO-led ] (SFOR) peacekeepers were the first to arrive at the scene. An investigation commenced the following day, and was carried out by the criminal police of the ] with help from experts from ] and ]. Immediately after the attack, domestic and foreign security agencies began searching for the perpetrators. Bosniak politicians, including prime minister ] and media outlets accused the Croats of carrying out the attack.{{sfn|Krešić|20 September 2011}}{{sfn|Lučić|2001|p=131}} As it occurred shortly after the Croat and Bosniak city police forces were united, and after the ] (HDZ) secured victory at the general elections, SFOR suspected three possible motives. In their opinion, it was either politically motivated and designed to sabotage the re-unification of the city's police force; mafia-related; or carried out by Islamic extremists with the goal of creating as many casualties and causing as much damage as possible. SFOR considered the latter hypothesis the least likely of the three, as it expected that a terrorist group would have taken responsibility immediately after such an attack. These doubts were soon dispelled.{{sfn|Krešić|20 September 2011}}


The preparator was ], who originated from ].{{sfn|Free Republic|30 September 2001}} His name was made public by the leader of the ] in Bosnia and Herzegovina, ], known as Abu Hamza. Abu Hamza told that the Wahhabist community "doesn't justify, but understands the crime". Handala carried out the terrorist attacks with his associates as a revenge to the ] (HVO).{{sfn|Bljesak.info|29 September 2012}} Handala's name was made public by the leader of the ] community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, ], known as Abu Hamza. Abu Hamza told reporters that " doesn't justify, but understands the crime". Handala and his associates apparently carried out the attack as a retribution to the ] (HVO), which had fought the predominantly Muslim Bosniaks during the war.{{sfn|Bljesak.info|29 September 2012}}


== Arrests and trial ==
The trial against Handala and his five associates started in May 1998.{{sfn|dDH}}. Handala was sentenced to 10 years in prison, but has a fugitive status. His associates, ] (from ]){{sfn|ISN|26 June 2009}} and ], nicknamed Abu Yemen, got eight and five years in prison.{{sfn|Gradišić|6 December 2012}} Handala and his associates were all linked to the ]. The terrorist attack in Mostar remains the most serious terrorist attack in Bosnia and Herzegovina.{{sfn|RTS|28 April 2015}}

In September 1998, Italian attorneys issued an international warrant for a group of criminals suspected of multiple crimes in Italy, including terrorist acts. Among the group was Saleh Nedal. He was arrested in ] in April 1999. Investigating judge Mirjana Grubešić and district attorney Marinko Jurčević, both Croats, asked the County Court in Travnik to comply with the Italian request to extradite Saleh but the court, presided by Senad Begović, a Bosniak, ruled against Saleh's extradition in July 1999. The same judge later signed a decree which terminated Saleh's imprisonment. The ], presided by judge Nazif Sulman, a Bosniak, affirmed the decree in August 1999. Saleh later warned Zuhair, who fled Bosnia before the start of his trial on 18 September 1998.{{sfn|Lučić|2001|p=132}}

During the police investigation, ] admitted committing the crime and made the same admission before the investigating judge. However, he denied any involvement at the trial, stating that the police had coerced him by promising a quick trial followed by his release. He was not charged with terrorism, but for constructing a car bomb, a criminal act which endangered the general safety and as a result all the accused received lighter sentences. Zuhair was tried ''in absentia'' and sentenced to ten-years in prison, while Ali Hamad received eight- and ] five-years in prison.{{sfn|Gradišić|6 December 2012}}{{sfn|Lučić|2001|pp=132&ndash;133}} Handala was eventually arrested after the ], and is currently detained in the ].{{sfn|Schindler|2007|p=266}} Handala and his associates were all linked to ]. The car bombing remains the most serious terrorist attack in Bosnia and Herzegovina since the end of the Bosnian War.{{sfn|Maroević|28 April 2015}}


== See also == == See also ==


* ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ]


== References == == References ==
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=== Notes === === Notes ===


{{reflist}} {{reflist|30em}}

=== Books ===

{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book|last=Schindler |first=John R. |title=Unholy Terror: Bosnia, Al-Qa'ida, and the Rise of Global Jihad |location=New York City |publisher=Zenith Press |year=2007 |isbn=9780760330036}}
{{refend}}

=== Journals ===

{{refbegin}}
* {{cite journal|last=Lučić |first=Ivo |year=2001 |title=Bosnia and Herzegovina and Terrorism |journal=National Security and the Future |location=Zagreb |publisher=St. George Association |volume=2 |issue=3-4 |issn=13324454 |ref=harv}}
{{refend}}


=== News reports === === News reports ===
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* {{cite news|title=Subjects about politics in Bih in May 1998 |url=http://www.ddh.nl/org/poo/uk/politics/0598.htm |publisher=dDH |date= |accessdate=28 April 2015 |ref={{harvid|dDH}}}} * {{cite news|title=Subjects about politics in Bih in May 1998 |url=http://www.ddh.nl/org/poo/uk/politics/0598.htm |publisher=dDH |date= |accessdate=28 April 2015 |ref={{harvid|dDH}}}}
* {{cite news|title=Vast investigation in Bosnia Herzegovina |url=http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/536003/posts |publisher=Free Republic |date=30 September 2001 |accessdate=28 April 2015 |ref={{harvid|Free Republic|20 September 2001}}}} * {{cite news|title=Vast investigation in Bosnia Herzegovina |url=http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/536003/posts |publisher=Free Republic |date=30 September 2001 |accessdate=28 April 2015 |ref={{harvid|Free Republic|20 September 2001}}}}
* {{cite news|last=Maroević |first=Rade |title=онологија терористичких напада у БиХ |url=http://www.rts.rs/page/stories/ci/story/3/%D0%A0%D0%B5%D0%B3%D0%B8%D0%BE%D0%BD/1902965/%D0%A5%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%B8%D1%98%D0%B0+%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%BA%D0%B8%D1%85+%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%B0+%D1%83+%D0%91%D0%B8%D0%A5.html |language=Serbian |publisher=Radio televizija Srbije |date=28 April 2015 |accessdate=28 April 2015 |ref={{harvid|RTS|28 April 2015}}}} * {{cite news|last=Maroević |first=Rade |title=Хронологија терористичких напада у БиХ |url=http://www.rts.rs/page/stories/ci/story/3/%D0%A0%D0%B5%D0%B3%D0%B8%D0%BE%D0%BD/1902965/%D0%A5%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%B8%D1%98%D0%B0+%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%87%D0%BA%D0%B8%D1%85+%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%B0+%D1%83+%D0%91%D0%B8%D0%A5.html |language=Serbian |publisher=Radio Television of Serbia |date=28 April 2015 |accessdate=28 April 2015 |ref={{harvid|Maroević|28 April 2015}}}}
{{refend}} {{refend}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Mostar car bombing}}
] ]
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]
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Revision as of 16:27, 3 May 2015

1997 Mostar car bombing
Mostar is located in Bosnia and HerzegovinaMostarMostarMostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
LocationMostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Coordinates43°20′52.18″N 17°48′07.84″E / 43.3478278°N 17.8021778°E / 43.3478278; 17.8021778
Date18 September 1997 (1997-09-18)
23:40 (CEST)
TargetCroat civilians and police
Attack typeCar bomb attack
DeathsNone
Injured29
Perpetratorsal-Qaeda
MotiveReligious motives, retribution against the Croatian Defence Council

A car bomb exploded in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina on 18 September 1997, injuring 29 people and destroying or damaging 120 apartments, as well as 120 vehicles. The attack was carried out by al-Qaeda-connected Islamic extremists, and targeted Croatian civilians and policemen as retribution against the Croatian Defence Council (HVO), which had fought Muslim forces for control of the city during the Bosnian War. It remains the most serious terrorist attack in post-war Bosnia and Herzegovina.

History

On 18 September 1997, a car bomb exploded on Splitska Street, in front of a police station in majority-Croat western Mostar. During the Bosnian War, the building had housed the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia. Twenty-nine people were either seriously or lightly wounded in the attack, including three police officers. The explosion created a crater 240 centimetres (94 in) wide and 85 centimetres (33 in) deep. In total, 120 apartments sustained some level of damage, of which 56 were completely destroyed. About 120 vehicles were also affected, including 46 that were completely destroyed.

The attack was organized by Ahmad Zuhair Handala, originally from Sudan, with his associates, Ali Ahmed Ali Hamad from Bahrain, Nebil Ali Hil, nicknamed Abu Yemen, Saleh Nedal and Vlado Popovski from the Republic of Macedonia. Handala and his associates were all linked to Al-Qaeda. Prior to the attack, Handala and Ali Hamad visited Mostar on 11 September, a week before the attack, in order to research the situation and confirm where they would plant the car bomb several days later. The very same day, Saleh Nedal was issued a Bosnian passport by the Ministry of Interor.

NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR) peacekeepers were the first to arrive at the scene. An investigation commenced the following day, and was carried out by the criminal police of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton with help from experts from Zagreb and Split. Immediately after the attack, domestic and foreign security agencies began searching for the perpetrators. Bosniak politicians, including prime minister Haris Silajdžić and media outlets accused the Croats of carrying out the attack. As it occurred shortly after the Croat and Bosniak city police forces were united, and after the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) secured victory at the general elections, SFOR suspected three possible motives. In their opinion, it was either politically motivated and designed to sabotage the re-unification of the city's police force; mafia-related; or carried out by Islamic extremists with the goal of creating as many casualties and causing as much damage as possible. SFOR considered the latter hypothesis the least likely of the three, as it expected that a terrorist group would have taken responsibility immediately after such an attack. These doubts were soon dispelled.

Handala's name was made public by the leader of the Wahhabi community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Alu Husin Imad, known as Abu Hamza. Abu Hamza told reporters that " doesn't justify, but understands the crime". Handala and his associates apparently carried out the attack as a retribution to the Croatian Defence Council (HVO), which had fought the predominantly Muslim Bosniaks during the war.

Arrests and trial

In September 1998, Italian attorneys issued an international warrant for a group of criminals suspected of multiple crimes in Italy, including terrorist acts. Among the group was Saleh Nedal. He was arrested in Travnik in April 1999. Investigating judge Mirjana Grubešić and district attorney Marinko Jurčević, both Croats, asked the County Court in Travnik to comply with the Italian request to extradite Saleh but the court, presided by Senad Begović, a Bosniak, ruled against Saleh's extradition in July 1999. The same judge later signed a decree which terminated Saleh's imprisonment. The Supreme Court of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, presided by judge Nazif Sulman, a Bosniak, affirmed the decree in August 1999. Saleh later warned Zuhair, who fled Bosnia before the start of his trial on 18 September 1998.

During the police investigation, Ali Ahmed Ali Hamad admitted committing the crime and made the same admission before the investigating judge. However, he denied any involvement at the trial, stating that the police had coerced him by promising a quick trial followed by his release. He was not charged with terrorism, but for constructing a car bomb, a criminal act which endangered the general safety and as a result all the accused received lighter sentences. Zuhair was tried in absentia and sentenced to ten-years in prison, while Ali Hamad received eight- and Nebil Ali Hil five-years in prison. Handala was eventually arrested after the September 11 attacks, and is currently detained in the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. Handala and his associates were all linked to Al-Qaeda. The car bombing remains the most serious terrorist attack in Bosnia and Herzegovina since the end of the Bosnian War.

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ Hercegovina.info & 18 September 2014.
  2. ^ Bljesak.info & 29 September 2012. sfn error: no target: CITEREFBljesak.info29_September_2012 (help)
  3. Free Republic & 30 September 2001. sfn error: no target: CITEREFFree_Republic30_September_2001 (help)
  4. ISN & 26 June 2009.
  5. ^ Lučić 2001, p. 132.
  6. ^ Maroević & 28 April 2015.
  7. ^ Krešić & 20 September 2011.
  8. Lučić 2001, p. 131.
  9. Gradišić & 6 December 2012. sfn error: no target: CITEREFGradišić6_December_2012 (help)
  10. Lučić 2001, pp. 132–133.
  11. Schindler 2007, p. 266.

Books

  • Schindler, John R. (2007). Unholy Terror: Bosnia, Al-Qa'ida, and the Rise of Global Jihad. New York City: Zenith Press. ISBN 9780760330036.

Journals

  • Lučić, Ivo (2001). "Bosnia and Herzegovina and Terrorism". National Security and the Future. 2 (3–4). Zagreb: St. George Association. ISSN 1332-4454. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)

News reports

Categories: