Bosnian War Crimes Suspect Killed by NATO Troops After Resisting Arrest

NATO troops Saturday shot to death a suspected Bosnian Serb war criminal after he resisted arrest and drove his car directly at the soldiers.

The suspect, Dragan Gagovic, who was accused of raping and torturing Muslim women, was killed by French troops of the NATO-led Bosnian peace force near the eastern town of Foca, NATO spokeswoman Maj. Sheena Thomson said.

The “troops defended themselves by opening fire,” she said.

After the shooting, unrest rocked Foca, and two U.N. police vehicles were demolished, residents said on condition of anonymity.

Two U.N. police officers were injured, a U.N. spokeswoman said.

NATO officials said the situation in Foca seemed to be under control late Saturday.

Gagovic, 38, was the local police chief in Foca. He was sought by the U.N. war crimes tribunal in The Hague on suspicion of torturing and raping at least five Muslim women detained at a prison center in 1992.

The indictment also says he was aware of sexual assaults on other women and knew about prisoners’ brutal living conditions. He was formally charged with crimes against humanity.

It was unclear whether the French troops who patrol Foca encountered Gagovic by chance or if they were looking for him.