Novi Sad: D. A. (32) arrested, explosive devices found

The Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office (VJT) in Belgrade announced today, October 24, that D. A. (32) has been arrested in Novi Sad. Improvised explosive devices, steel caltrops and a large quantity of protective equipment were found in premises used by the suspect.

Who ordered the arrest and who carried it out

The arrest was ordered by the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade, in coordination with the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in Novi Sad and officers of the Security Information Agency (BIA). It was carried out by officers of the Belgrade and Novi Sad police departments.

The premises were searched under orders from the pre-trial judge of the Basic Court in Novi Sad. The statement does not say when the searches took place.

What was found in the suspect’s premises

The prosecutors say they found the following:

“A large quantity of various improvised explosive devices, as well as various kinds of dangerous implements, pyrotechnics, body armor, helmets and other items.”

The statement lists the items individually:

• improvised explosive devices with a fuse, and cans with a fuse
• a gas cylinder with a firecracker attached
• several packs of fireworks
• 23 steel caltrops and 84 improvised caltrops made from nails
• 88 protective vests, 93 protective helmets and 98 protective gloves

Caltrops are metal spikes joined so that one point always faces upward, however they land on the ground.

What the suspect is accused of

D. A. is accused of three criminal offenses:

• unlawful manufacture, possession, carrying and trade of weapons and explosive materials (Article 348 of the Criminal Code)
• preparing an offense against the constitutional order and security of Serbia (Article 320)
• calling for a violent change of the constitutional order (Article 309)

He has been ordered held for up to 48 hours. Within that period he will be brought in for questioning at the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade. This is a matter of suspicion, not established guilt.

Is the arrest linked to the earlier operation in Novi Sad?

On Wednesday, October 21, the VJT said five people had been arrested in Novi Sad: M. V. (28), D. J. (28), D. S. (27), D. L. (28) and M. I. (28). They are suspected of planning violence and unrest on the day of the parliamentary elections, October 25, as well as attacks on political opponents and police officers. They are charged as co-perpetrators with preparing an offense against the constitutional order and calling for a violent change of the constitutional order.

N1 reports today that media earlier reported D. A. was arrested as a continuation of that operation. The prosecutors’ statement does not mention such a link.

Kurir, citing information from the investigation, writes that D. A. belongs to a group it ties to one named leader, that he was tasked with providing weapons and technical support, and that the equipment was meant for unrest in Belgrade on election day. According to the same paper, the spikes were suspected to be meant to stop police from approaching. The name Kurir mentions is not repeated here, because the prosecutors did not release it. None of these claims is part of the VJT statement, and none has been confirmed by an official source.