Skopje Resident Arrested under Suspicions of Being Islamic State Member

Police have arrested 23-year-old Skopje resident, S.F., wanted since August this year, when in the frames of the 'Cell' operation a charge was filed against him for reasonable doubts he was involved in a foreign army, police or para-military formation.

A competent court has sentenced the reported individual to detention in absence.

According to findings, the reported person was a member of the Islamic State in Syria since springtime this year. He was previously known to the police for committing property-related crimes, the Interior Ministry confirmed.

According to Interior Ministry information issued previously, the operation Cell was carried out in early August this year, as the result of a several-month long coordinated investigation, during which evidence was gathered on people who participated in para-military formations, by organizing financial and logistical means for the needs of the armed group, as well as by recruiting and encouraging people to join the Islamic State.

In the course of the investigation, evidence was also gathered on hiding individuals who have already taken part in para-military formations outside Macedonia's territory or had attempted to do so. In the frames of the operation, 28 raids in total were conducted in Skopje, Gostivar, Tetovo, Kumanovo and Struga, and a large amount of technical means was seized, while nine people were apprehended.