Two backpacks with explosives found near TurkStream: Serbia reports attempted sabotage

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, stated that army and police units, which were searching for the terrain in the municipality of Kanjiza in connection with threats to critical gas infrastructure, discovered two packages of explosives with detonating cords.

Vucic emphasized that the Serbian Army managed to prevent an action against the country’s vital interests and that Serbia will deal ruthlessly with anyone who attempts to endanger its critical infrastructure.

In the territory of the Kanjiza municipality, near the village of Tresnjevac, 140 members of the police and military were involved in the operation, using several passenger, off-road, and van vehicles, while a helicopter flew over the area during the morning.

Suspicious items were found in the immediate vicinity of the TurkStream gas infrastructure in the Kanjiza area, which was also confirmed by the President of Serbia.

"Our units found two backpacks containing highly destructive explosives and the detonating cords necessary to activate them. We also have other evidence from the investigation. I spoke with Viktor Orbán about this news, because if there had been a disruption of gas supply there, Hungary would have had no gas, and we in northern Serbia would also have been without gas", Vucic said during a visit to the EXPO 2027 construction site in Surcin.

He noted that he is not certain whether the intention was to act against Hungary, with Serbia as collateral damage, or to act solely against Serbia, or perhaps against both countries simultaneously.

"But I congratulate our services on the work done so far. I hope everyone will remain safe, that they will remove the explosives without casualties and without consequences, and that is all I can say at this moment. We are not rushing to say who did what and how, as others have done, because serious people and responsible states do not do that until the job is finished", Vucic added.

VBA: Explosives manufactured in the USA

The Director of the Military Security Agency (VBA), Djuro Jovanic, said, speaking about the explosives found in the municipality of Kanjiza, that a person from a group of migrants attempted to carry out sabotage on the gas infrastructure.

At the beginning of his statement, Jovanic said this was a successful operation by Serbian security services, which had been preceded by a period of preparation.

"For months, we warned the Supreme Commander and the President of Serbia that something like this could happen. We encountered skepticism, disapproval, disagreement... This operation was preceded by solid fieldwork, and we had information that a person from a group of migrants, who is physically capable, would attempt to carry out sabotage on the gas infrastructure", Jovanic stated.

Jovanic added that during the investigation, explosives, detonation devices, and equipment for preparing explosives and sabotage were found.

"Based on the markings on the explosives, it can be seen that they were manufactured in the United States", he said.

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