The wave of reports about planted explosive devices that has been affecting Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as neighboring countries such as Croatia and Montenegro, is growing into a serious security challenge with regional characteristics. Although most of the cases are unfounded threats or false reports, their effect is far-reaching. Classes in schools and the work of institutions are interrupted, and a sense of insecurity is created among citizens.
Experts warn of an increasingly pronounced “copycat” effect, as well as possible elements of coordination, while security agencies simultaneously conduct complex investigations that often cross national borders. Precisely because of the combination of psychological pressure and system load, such reports are increasingly seen as a form of low-intensity security threat, but with potentially serious consequences.
In Canton Sarajevo, there were reports of explosive devices placed in shopping centers and schools. And in many others, schools are being targeted. On Tuesday, April 21, all schools in Tuzla Canton were evacuated. Reports were also recorded in other cantons such as West Herzegovina.
Security expert Safet Mušić told Oslobodjenje.ba that the waves of reports about planted explosive devices in BiH, Croatia and Montenegro show a clear regional pattern and it is difficult to view them as isolated incidents.
Psychological pressure on society
– Although some of the cases originate from individuals, often younger ones, there is also a strong “copycat” effect, but also elements that point to possible coordinated activities or at least inspiration from the same sources. Such reports have wider security significance because they test the capacities of institutions and create psychological pressure on society, without the actual use of violence. An additional problem is that the perpetrators are difficult to detect due to the use of anonymous tools, foreign servers and cross-border operations, which requires complex international cooperation, Mušić pointed out.
He pointed out that the FUP collects evidence, whether at the national or international level, and analyzes it.
– In some parts, clients and services from abroad were used. The motives are not clear to us. We will see if the person is from Bosnia and Herzegovina or outside it. And is this actually a campaign? Because I see that it was also done in the Republic of Croatia and in Montenegro and that the same e-mail client was used. As for us, in cooperation with partner agencies in Bosnia and Herzegovina, primarily OSA, SIPA, we are working on identifying persons, that is, collecting clues and analyzing the clues we have already received. We cooperate with police agencies from abroad such as Europol, Interpol and other police agencies in those countries. We cannot identify them as quickly as expected because we are waiting for certain data from other countries, Petrović said.
He emphasized that similar patterns are being recorded in the global context, where false threats serve to cause panic and burden the system.
– Although the reports are in most cases false, their consequences are real – from the blocking of institutions to the violation of citizens’ sense of security. That is why this phenomenon should be treated as a serious security challenge of low intensity, but with potentially long-term destabilizing effects, said Mušić.
Saša Petrović, head of the Department for Combating Computer Crime of the Federal Police Administration (FUP), told Oslobodjenje.ba that the FUP only acts on the requests of cantonal prosecutor’s offices and ministries of interior affairs in order to identify persons who send this type of information.
– I can say that our Department for the fight against computer crime assisted colleagues in the West Herzegovina Canton regarding reports that were sent at the level of that canton and that the person was criminally processed by colleagues working on that case. We are successfully acting on the requests of the MUP in order to identify other persons or one person who reported these bombs. We will see the motive when they are deprived of their freedom, said Petrović.
He added that everything will work out in the end, just like last time. He says that members of the FUP are not aware of the outcome of further proceedings after they identify them.
– Last time, the majority were minors who did it because of control tests in schools and the like, but there were also adults who also used certain anti-forensic protections in an attempt to conceal the source from which it was sent, i.e. the source IP address. And we will record the traces, as in any other case. FUP is doing its part. The Cantonal Prosecutor’s Office is doing its part. I would not cause panic among the citizens. I wish he would calm down. The police work according to clearly prescribed protocols under the supervision of the prosecutor’s office, and KDZ examinations are prescribed in the protocols. We are here to protect citizens first and foremost, emphasized Petrović.
There is no reason to fear
He said that the perpetrator could be a child who wants to destroy classes tomorrow, and it could be that the pranks are part of cyber warfare aimed at Bosnia and Herzegovina in order to create a feeling of general insecurity.
– I see that emails are sent to institutions that are part of critical infrastructure. They hit the “weakest” links, ie. on children, schools, hospitals and security agencies. Maybe someone is aiming to create a feeling of general insecurity in our country and fear among the population, added Petrović, emphasizing that he was expressing his opinion.
He said that there is no reason for fear and panic, because such cases are common both in our country and in the world.
– The question is, who is it? Is it an enemy state or is it a friendly one that is trying to show that it comes from an enemy state… The clues that have already been obtained will prove that, and that suspect or more will explain to the court, that is, the prosecutor, what he thought and what he wanted, so we’ll see. I can’t say that there won’t be more reports in the coming period. No one knows this, but it is not a reason for general panic because the police officers are actually doing their part in the cantonal MUPs as well. Yes, it is a burden and maybe a diversion from some other things and the investigation… I remember that last time we worked day and night and that we had 30 suspects who confessed to everything. I don’t know what the result of further action will be, Petrović pointed out for Oslobodjenje.ba.
He added that members of the FUP’s Department for Combating Terrorism and Department for Combating Computer Crime do not go to the field in such cases but work on them when a request is submitted to them.
– The boys and girls are doing their part. We don’t know the full story, nor should we. It is up to us to collect digital traces that point to the perpetrators, concluded Petrović, he states Liberation.
