Why is the terrorist from NZ fascinated with Serbia and its heroes? The entire world has been digging through the open wounds of Balkans (PHOTO)

The terrorist attack in New Zealand is an event that shocked the whole world with its brutality. Brenton Tarrant (28) is charged with the killing of 50 people in two mosques, and dozens of people are wounded in this bloody event. He "justified" his crime by the fact that he wanted to protect his race, and experts around the world say that this is only part of the globalization of the extremist far right. 

"I will Balkanize the US and ensure that NATO isn't on Muslim side like it is on Kosovo": The terrorist murdered 49 people and he announced vengeance for the death of thousands of Christians

He broadcast the entire slaughter on social networks, and what attracted special attention is the music that he used to play in the car before the massacre, and the names that were written on his weapons.

Tarrant, before his crime, listened to Serbian nationalist music, praising the actions of a war criminal who was convicted, and the weapons on which the massacre was committed are the names of Milos Obilic and Bajo Pivljanin who had fought against the Ottoman Muslims several centuries ago, writes cbc.ca.

Foto: Tanjug/AP

The Serbian nationalist song heard by the murderer glorified the actions of Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic, who was convicted of war crimes against Bosnian Muslims during the 1992-1995 war in the former Yugoslavia.  There are also numerous abusive expressions for Muslims in this song.

This fascination with Serbia and the Balkans, in general, is atypical, but not unprecedented for people in Western countries who believe in "the superiority of the white race," analysts say who study the right.

The obsession with the battles between Christian and Muslim soldiers, which took place in the Middle Ages, also cast light on the motives of some fascists in the 21st century, analysts say.

"PEOPLE ARE WATCHING HISTORY" 

- The focus on Serbia is not unusual. In the nineties, at the height of the Balkan crisis, I knew about people who went to fight there, and these were often former soldiers. You had extreme nationalism in the Balkans, which manifested itself in a conflict - said Tony McAleer, a former member of the neo-Nazi group "White Aryan Resistance." 

- Someone like him (Tarrant) was probably watching events from that period because people are looking for inspiration from history - he added.

Foto: Facebook

The celebration of Serbian symbols is far less dominant among neo-Nazis in the West compared to the Viking myths and religions - said McAleer, who is now advising people to leave extremist movements through the group "Life After Hatred".

Miloš Obilić, slika Aleksandra Dobrića iz 1861. godine koja se čuva u beogradskom Narodnom muzeju. Foto: Wikimedia Commons/Свифт

In a manifesto published on the Internet, the killer from New Zealand has given his extreme views about the superiority of the white race, contempt for Islam and the obsession with Turkey and its historical predecessors, the Ottoman Empire.

- We are coming to Constantinople. We will destroy every mosque and minaret in the city - the 74-page document cites, referring to the historic name of Istanbul, Turkey's largest city and city of a great battle between Christians and Muslim soldiers several hundred years ago, writes cbc.ca.

Foto: Facebook

"CLASH OF CIVILISATIONS" 

Jackie Hogan, a professor at Bradley University in Illinois, who studies extreme right-wing movements, says Western people who glorify the white race do not often mention Serbia.

Part of the killer's interest could originate from the Balkan wars, who "have illustrated the clash of civilizations: the idea that Islam and Christianity are incompatible and that leads to violent conflicts," she said, referring to a view of the world she thinks is not accurate.

- It fits into this paranoia of "Muslim attackers". And Christians should rise up against the "Muslim hordes" that are meant to pour in the country - she says about the common view that unites the far right, from Australia to the United States, Canada, and Europe.

According to local government data, Muslims make up about 1 percent of the population in New Zealand, although this small community has grown over the years.

Foto: Tanjug/AP

After news of the massacre in New Zealand and the fascination of a killer for Balkan military figures, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said he was condemning the attack.

- I condemn this type of abuse, this man has nothing to do with Serbia. I do not know who could be his inspiration, but I saw the names from other countries on that list - he told at the news conference.

Jennifer Zenovich, who works at the State University of San Francisco, and who is studying the former Yugoslavia, says that the small "pockets" of Serbian nationalists might feel connected with the elements of Tarrant's alleged manifesto and its application to continue violence against Muslims.

- But this is not the dominant situation of what is happening in Serbia - she said.

Foto: Tanjug/AP

THE KILLER TRAVELED THE COUNTRIES WHERE MUSLIMS ARE MAJORITY 

Authorities in Bulgaria, Croatia, and Turkey confirmed that Tarrant visited their countries between 2016 and 2018. Hungarian and Austrian authorities also said that he also visited their countries, and local media from Bosnia and Herzegovina stated that he was there in 2017.

This kind of travel, especially through countries where the Muslim people make up the majority, is not a normal thing for people who glorify "the superiority of the white race", McAleer said.

Especially because the killer allegedly enjoyed the places he visited.

- Different cultures of the world greeted me with warmth and compassion, and I enjoyed almost every moment I spent with them - he wrote in the manifesto.

"THE SONG OPENED OLD WOUNDS ON BALKANS" 

After it was established that the murderer played a Serbian nationalistic song glorifying the war criminal, the French media reported that this situation opened the old wounds in the Balkans, especially in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

VIDEO: The moment when the attacker killed people in the mosque 

(Telegraf.co.uk / A.T.)