Details emerge of N. Sad explosives bust

Serbian police (MUP) on Monday confirmed that they on June 16 arrested Ivo Djukanovic, a Novi Sad resident. Djukanovic is the husband of Vojvodina Executive Council President Bojan Pajtic's adviser Tanja Djukanovic, and was detained on suspicion that he was illegally in possession of weapons and explosives. Details emerge of N. Sad explosives bust The media initially identified him as Ivan Djukanovic. Now the police said that after searching the suspect's apartment and garage, they discovered 3 kilograms of TNT, and 2.5 kilograms of pentrit explosives. A MUP statement also said that the arrest came after several months of surveillance and that Djukanovic was placed in 48-hour detention. The police transferred the suspect, at the same time filing criminal charges against him, to an investigative judge with Novi Sad's Municipal Court who assumed the jurisdiction over the case. Interior Minister Ivica Dacic reacted today by saying that MUP is "very surprised" by the news that Djukanovic was not remanded in prison after the 48-hour period, despite the huge cache of weapons of explosives found in his possession. But, the minister said, this was now a matter for the judiciary that the police would not interfere with. He also stated that so far there appears to have been no connection between the arrest and the recent top-level regional gathering in Novi Sad. According to Dacic, police are investigating whether Djukanovic and the explosives found in his home have any connection to other cases, but explained that so far there has been no information to tie it to the murder last fall of Croatian journalist and publisher Ivo Pukanic, or victims of other crimes. The police today provided a detailed description of the items discovered on June 16. Beside the total of 5.5 kilograms of explosives, these items include: four complete, improvised TNT devices of 200 grams each, slow-burning fuses with detonator caps number 8, four detonator caps number 8, five packets of improvised chemical silencers with two caliber 2 pistols. Officers also found six packets containing ten pen-pistols each, a military timer mechanism marked SU-24C-M-83, nine EDCs with wire, and several silencers; three laser sights for CZ99 pistol, five rounds of Scorpion ammunition, CZ83, CZ 70, P38 pistols, one 6mm 991 pistol with silencer, bullets for these weapons, spare parts and other equipment. Some of the illegal arms seized (Photo courtesy of MUP)

Details emerge of N. Sad explosives bust

The media initially identified him as Ivan Đukanović. Now the police said that after searching the suspect's apartment and garage, they discovered 3 kilograms of TNT, and 2.5 kilograms of pentrit explosives.

A MUP statement also said that the arrest came after several months of surveillance and that Đukanović was placed in 48-hour detention.

The police transferred the suspect, at the same time filing criminal charges against him, to an investigative judge with Novi Sad's Municipal Court who assumed the jurisdiction over the case.

Interior Minister Ivica Dačić reacted today by saying that MUP is "very surprised" by the news that Đukanović was not remanded in prison after the 48-hour period, despite the huge cache of weapons of explosives found in his possession.

But, the minister said, this was now a matter for the judiciary that the police would not interfere with. He also stated that so far there appears to have been no connection between the arrest and the recent top-level regional gathering in Novi Sad.

According to Dačić, police are investigating whether Đukanović and the explosives found in his home have any connection to other cases, but explained that so far there has been no information to tie it to the murder last fall of Croatian journalist and publisher Ivo Pukanić, or victims of other crimes.

The police today provided a detailed description of the items discovered on June 16. Beside the total of 5.5 kilograms of explosives, these items include: four complete, improvised TNT devices of 200 grams each, slow-burning fuses with detonator caps number 8, four detonator caps number 8, five packets of improvised chemical silencers with two caliber 2 pistols.

Officers also found six packets containing ten pen-pistols each, a military timer mechanism marked SU-24Č-M-83, nine EDCs with wire, and several silencers; three laser sights for CZ99 pistol, five rounds of Scorpion ammunition, CZ83, CZ 70, P38 pistols, one 6mm 991 pistol with silencer, bullets for these weapons, spare parts and other equipment.