Albania arrests alleged jihad recruiting group

Albania arrests alleged jihad recruiting group

Officials are trying to prevent imams and others from recruiting Muslims to fight in foreign conflicts.

Muslims arrive at a Tirana mosque whose imam, Genci Balla, and six others were arrested on charges of recruiting believers to join the Syria conflict. [AFP]

Albanian authorities are pursuing extremist groups that recruit Muslims to fight in Syria and elsewhere, officials said.

The country's state police arrested a seven-member group last week that allegedly recruited about 50 Muslims and organised their transport to Syria.

The two main suspects are Genci "Abdurraman" Balla, 35, who runs a mosque in Tirana, and Bujar Hysa, 43, who runs a mosque in Mezez near Tirana. Neither man was appointed by the Albania's Islamic Community.

Police said they confiscated firearms and ammunition, phones, bank account contracts, computers, radios, camouflage bags, and a military uniform.

"The fact this cell was discovered shows the high-level [of readiness] of the state police," said Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati.

Bushati said the nine-month operation showed the government's resolve to fight extremism.

Police said the recruits travelled to Syria by car via Istanbul and underwent military training in Aleppo. Per Albanian law, each fighter faces a 10-year prison sentence if they return.

A Tirana court issued arrest orders for five Albanians that are currently in Syria and Turkey.

"The arrests are important because they increase security and show that while such activities were tolerated in Albania [in the past], they will not be tolerated anymore," Fatos Klosi, former head of Albania's secret service, told SETimes.

Albania's Islamic...