Arrests aid terrorism fight in Albania

Arrests aid terrorism fight in Albania

The arrests of five suspects bring a long-desired relief from a terror group's actions.

Albanian officers conduct an anti-terrorism exercise. Security experts have urged the country's law enforcement agencies to work jointly to prevent acts of terrorism. [AFP]

The arrests by Albanian police of five people accused of being involved in a terrorism ring that has been linked to 22 murders in Albania and Greece is being called a "spectacular attack" against organised crime.

The group sought to kill prominent politicians and business people during the last two years for 20,000 euros to 50,000 euros per person, according to prosecutors.

Albania's state police said the group's preferred assassination method was to use C-4 plastic explosives. The arrests were carried out in late January and last month as the group planned to assassinate a businessman in the gas industry.

Police also said they confiscated automatic firearms, C-4 plastic explosives, detonators and mobile phones to activate explosions.

One group member is still at large.

"This is the most spectacular attack against organised crime in the history of Albanian police. The C-4 explosions will be treated as terrorist acts," Interior Minister Saimir Tahiri told SETimes.

The aim of this group was to destabilise the country, said Ardian Cipa, Tirana police director.

"We have extended our co-operation to the Greek police because one of the accused was most likely involved in serious crimes in Greece," Cipa told SETimes.

Julian Sinanaj is suspected of killing more than 20 people and committing other serious crimes in Greece, including a bombing attack on a Thessaloniki courthouse...