The National Security Agency (ANB), in cooperation with the Police Directorate (UP), prevented an attempt to establish a radical Islamic network in Montenegro, "Vijesti" was unofficially told by the top security official. As part of this action, a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina was expelled from the country. Haris Sundo, who was trying to form a parajamaat in Plav - a parallel religious community outside the framework of the official Islamic Community of Montenegro.
"This is one of the last operations carried out by the ANB and the Police," said the interlocutor of "Vijesti".
He claims that their quick and timely reaction in that case was crucial for the overall security environment in the country:
"Which, due to its openness, is exposed to various security challenges."
From the Agency headed by Ivica Janović They officially stated that there are several radical Salafi groups in Montenegro, divided into several factions, which are at different levels of radicalization.
"In Montenegro, so far, no terrorist attack has been carried out in the name of religion or faith. However, there are several radical Salafi groups in Montenegro, divided into several factions, which are at different levels of radicalization," the secret police responded.
The ANB announced that "an international component is observed in the activities of members of these groups and their focus on attempts to spread radical ideologies":
"Primarily on the younger population, as well as the continued radicalization of members of the RAE population. Regional networking of radical Salafi groups of the same ideological profile is reflected in mutual visits, occasional stays of radical religious preachers from the region and diaspora, the formation of local and regional groups on applications for encrypted communication, sharing of propaganda material, and the like. Radical religious preachers, some of whom are already at large after serving their sentences, have a dominant influence on the Salafi scene in Montenegro. However, since there are no prominent local preachers in Montenegro, radical Salafi structures, depending on their ideological orientation, rely on preachers from the countries of the region," the secret police answered a set of questions about the presence of radical networks in Montenegro, as well as those about Haris Šund.
A source from the top of the security sector explained that the secret and public police have determined that there is an evident presence of a large number of preachers who operate outside the Islamic Communities and who have gained great influence over time, especially in Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Kosovo.
"If it is known that the acceptance of radical views is a key factor in further radicalization, it is necessary to solve the problem at the initial stage, because if this is not done, a number of people will enter a vicious circle from which there is no return. Recognizing these problems, the intelligence and security sector of Montenegro is continuously engaged in preventing all forms of deviations that can contribute to further radicalization. Through a whole series of preventive activities, it has now managed to deal with the problems of radicalization that leads to terrorism, although it is aware that due to regional influences, this problem cannot be completely eradicated, but it is possible to act to keep it at a socially acceptable level," said the same source.
Raska and Plav
An interlocutor of "Vijesti" from the security sector explained that Šund's stay in Montenegro was detected after last year's anti-terrorist actions by security services in Serbia.
This BiH citizen was deported from Serbia shortly after the terrorist attack in front of the Israeli embassy in Belgrade, on June 29, 2024. On that day Miloš Žujović wounded a member of the local Gendarmerie Miloš Jevremović.
Žujović, who after converting to Islam took the name Sabahudin, allegedly was connected to the Wahhabi movement and moved to Novi Pazar, together with his wife B. Ž., originally from Plav.
The day after the attack in which Žujović was killed, several buildings were searched, including the apartment where Šundo was staying in Serbia. In addition to him, Igor Despotovic i Kemal Begovic, regional media reported, citing sources from the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs.
It was then announced that Šundo, who was originally from Goražde, did not have a residence permit in Serbia and that he would therefore be deported back to BiH, which was done.
In mid-July last year, the Serbian Minister of Internal Affairs Ivica Dacic announced that it had not been determined that there was a wider organization that participated in the preparation of the terrorist act in which a member of the Gendarmerie was seriously injured.
According to the Montenegrin security sector, before coming to Plav, Šundo spent a longer time in the Raška-Polim region.
"From where, after the aforementioned attack, he was deported to BiH."
He gathered the Wahhabis of Plav...
The security sector unofficially revealed what information secret police operatives had obtained during one of their latest activities.
"It is known that among the Wahhabis in Plav, whom Haris Šundo gathered, there were also those who belonged to the group of Plav Wahhabis, Omar Redžepagić i Džemal Canović", who joined ISIL in Syria. After the collapse of ISIL, Omar Redžepagić ended up in a Kurdish prison, while Džemal Canović is believed to have died fighting on the side of ISIL," said the same source.
The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a jihadist extremist organization, declared a “caliphate” in Iraq and Syria in 2014. It is notorious for its brutal crimes - mass murders, kidnappings and beheadings, which it justifies with a radical interpretation of Sunni Islam. Following the offensive by the US-led coalition, ISIL lost territory by 2019, but continues to operate as a guerrilla network in several countries.
Ulcinj on target
A source from the top of the security sector explained that radical Islamic networks are strongly interested in Ulcinj, and announced the continuation of actions to eliminate threats.
"In addition to Plav, regional radical networks are showing increased interest in Ulcinj, which is not only interesting to tourist investors. Their presence and activities are in the focus of security services and it is expected that actions to eliminate threats will continue. I emphasize that the timely reaction of Montenegrin services in this case is extremely important for the overall security environment," he said.
He pointed out that the Western Balkans region is still burdened by the presence of a large number of radical networks:
"Among them are those who, due to their members joining ISIL during the war in Syria, are associated with this terrorist organization. The implementation of a large number of counter-terrorist operations in the Western Balkans has greatly weakened these structures. Although the situation currently seems to be relatively stable, the possible consolidation of ISIL sympathizers is worrying, which is also contributed to by the release from prison of a number of persons who were serving prison sentences precisely for their connections with terrorism, among whom there are influential radical preachers. The war in Gaza and the expansion of the conflict to Lebanon could continue to encourage certain radical elements to decide to carry out activities aimed at preparing and carrying out terrorist attacks in the Western Balkans. A special category that security services pay attention to are converts, and the case of Miloš Žujović, who attacked the Israeli embassy in Belgrade last year, supports this correct position," said the interlocutor of "Vijesti".
Islamic communities could do more
Emphasizing that Montenegrin security services, aware of regional influences, are continuously working to suppress all forms of radicalization, the "Vijesti" interlocutor said that Islamic communities recognize the problem of radicalization, but that their work is often insufficiently in-depth, especially in prevention among young people.
He also pointed out that radicalization via the Internet has been recognized as the main tool used by radical elements to persuade young people to adopt radical narratives.
"Islamic communities recognize this problem, but their greater involvement in preventing the radicalization of young people is lacking. This is not the only activity that should be given attention," said the interlocutor of "Vijesti".
A parajamaat is an informal religious community that operates outside the control of the official Islamic Community, without its approval or supervision. These groups often gather supporters of radical interpretations of Islam, such as Salafism and Wahhabism, and in some cases are linked to extremist and terrorist networks. Parajamaats in the region are considered a security challenge because they can be sources of radicalization and recruitment for terrorist organizations.
ANB constantly in the fight against terrorism
Ivica Janović's office responded to "Vijesti" that the Agency continuously implements activities to prevent terrorism and other forms of organized violence.
"Accordingly, continuous cooperation is being achieved with competent entities at the national level, which has been strengthened by the formation of the National Interdepartmental Operational Team for Combating Violent Extremism, Terrorism, Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (NOT)," they said.
They also explain what the tasks of this operational team are:
"The task of the NOT is, among other things, to manage, coordinate, monitor activities and establish communication with other ministries, state administration bodies, other institutions and civil society, as well as coordinate and direct activities while assessing the situation and making proposals for improving the situation, further measures and activities in the field of combating violent extremism, terrorism, money laundering and terrorist financing."
Bonus video:
