Police also block Partizan FC stadium, search supporters' premises in the South stand

An operation carried out by members of the Security-Information Agency (BIA) and the Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime, in order to arrest members of an organized criminal group suspected of committing most serious crimes, has led to the two largest Serbian stadiums - those of Red Star and Partizan football clubs - being blockaded by the police on Thursday morning.

As many as 16 people have been arrested, including leaders of a Partizan supporters' group Veljko Belivuk aka Velja Nevolja, and Marko Miljkovic, aka Mare, while the police are currently searching 30 locations across the city.

One of them are the premises used by Partizan fans, which are located on the South stand of the stadium in Humska Street in Belgrade, while strong police forces are also located on the Eest stand.

Also, it could be seen that certain persons were being detained.

In the meantime, deputy head of the Criminal Investigations Police (UKP) and acting SBPOK chief Ninoslav Cmolic said that this morning's arrest of an organized criminal group, which was hiding behind a Partizan supporters' group, showed that there are no protected (from investigation) people in the country and that no criminal organization will be tolerated.

"The criminal group that was broken up this morning is responsible for a series of most monstrous crimes, perhaps even (the worst) the last few decades. This group was hiding behind a Partizan supporters' group all the time, but they are not football fans at all, they are ordinary criminals. We will prove the individual role of each of them, and we will not tolerate any type of crime," Cmolic told a news conference held at the Palace of Serbia.

The Gendarmerie was also positioned around the entire Red Star stadium this morning, the West and South stands where the entrance to the club's official premises was also blocked, as well as the part where the Youth School is located.

(Telegraf.rs)