Montenegro's police identify former soldier decorated by Milosevic as US embassy bomber

By bne IntelliNews February 22, 2018

Montenegro’s police have revealed that a former soldier named Dalibor Jaukovic threw a grenade at the US embassy in the early hours of February 22 , broadcaster RTCG reported. His motives are still unknown.

Shortly after midnight, a man threw the grenade and killed himself with another explosive device in the first apparent terror attack in Podgorica’s newest history.

According to Jaukovic’s Facebook profile, he has been awarded for serving his country by ex-strongman Slobodan Milosevic. His photos on Facebook indicate Jaukovic was a supporter of Marxism and an opponent of Milo Djukanovic, the leader of Montenegro’s pro-EU ruling Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS). Djukanovic led Montenegro through its secession from Serbia and pushed for the country’s Euro-Atlantic integration.

Jaukovic’s identity has not yet been confirmed by Montenegro’s interior ministry which said in a statement that it is intensively working to identify the attacker. 

Montenegro is Nato's newest member having joined the alliance in June 2017. Its accession to the alliance provoked strong protests from the pro-Russian opposition Democratic Front (DF). 

Some of its leaders are suspected of participating in a coup plot, which was timed to coincide with the October 2016 general election and allegedly organised by two Russians. Two DF leaders and several suspected participants from Russia and Serbia are currently on trial. The plotters are understood to have planned to seize power and assassinate Djukanovic, Montenegro’s prime minister at that time.

Djukanovic also claimed in 2015 that Moscow was funding protests by the DF and other opponents of Montenegro’s Nato accession with the aim of creating an image of instability in the country. 

The Montenegrin authorities have not suggested there is any link between the coup plot and the attack on the US embassy, though the government issued a statement condemning the attack.

“We condemn in strongest terms attack on @USEmbassyMNE. Safety and security of Mission personnel are not violated. This will not and cannot undermine the high level of safety and security of diplomatic missions or overall security situation in #Montenegro,” the government said on Twitter.

A similar statement was issued on its website, adding that the Interior Minister Mevludin Nuhodzic and the head of the police directorate Slavko Stojanovic had visited the embassy.

Meanwhile, the embassy warned US citizens to stay away until further notice. A notice posted on its website early on February 22 said: "The US Embassy in Podgorica advises US citizens there is an active security situation at the US Embassy in Podgorica."

The embassy warned citizens on its website to avoid the area around the building, avoid large gatherings and demonstrations, follow the instructions of local authorities, watch media for updates and apply sound security practices.

Later during the day, the embassy confirmed on Twitter that all personnel were safe. Despite that, the embassy has cancelled all visa services for the day.

Related Articles

EIB surpasses investment milestone in the Western Balkans by investing €1.2bn in 2023

EIB Global, the financial arm of the European Investment Bank (EIB) for activities beyond the EU, set a new record by investing €1.2bn in the Western Balkans in 2023, the EIB said on February 9. ... ... more

bne IntelliNews Southeast Europe Outlook 2024

This Southeast Europe Outlook 2024 has been prepared by bne IntelliNews as part of a series of annual reviews providing updates on the geopolitical, macroeconomic and commercial state of ... more

Montenegro’s central bank says Serbian company wants to buy Prva Banka

Montenegro’s central bank said on November 10 it has received a request for approval of the purchase of a 50% stake in Prva Banka Montenegro from a Serbian company, not a Bosnian businessman as ... more

Dismiss