U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo Calls Halt to Activities After Receiving Threat

The U.S. Embassy shut down all operations Friday because of a terrorist threat, just days after police raided an Islamic charity, arrested an espionage suspect and seized bogus passports, weapons and plans for making bombs, officials said.

The embassy in Sarajevo had reduced operations Wednesday after receiving word of a possible terrorist threat. On Friday, it got new information “that prompted us to take further precautionary measures and close the embassy entirely,” spokeswoman Karen Williams said.

“We are reassessing the situation continually and will reopen when appropriate,” she said.

No other details about the nature of the threat were made available by the embassy.

On Tuesday, Bosnian police raided an Islamic charity, Bosnian Ideal Future, formerly known as the Benevolentia International Foundation. Police said some employees of the charity were conducting activities unrelated to humanitarian work.

Police reported Friday that they arrested a man with links to the charity but gave only his initials, M.Z. They did not say when the arrest was made but said the man was turned over to the investigative judge of Sarajevo’s regional court under “credible suspicion” of committing espionage.

A Western diplomatic source in Sarajevo, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Tuesday’s raid uncovered ski masks, forged passports, loaded weapons and grenades, as well as instruction manuals for making explosive devices and booby-traps.

In January, Bosnia’s government ordered an inquiry into the work of foreign humanitarian agencies. Just two weeks ago, investigators reported funds were missing from three Islamic charities, including the Benevolentia International Foundation.

More than 1 million Muslims live in Bosnia, including several hundred Islamic fighters who came to fight on the Muslim side in the war against the Serbs and Croats. About 3,100 U.S. troops are stationed in the country with the NATO-led peacekeeping force.