Bosnia Serb war crimes suspect commits suicide during arrest attempt: UN Mission
13 October -- A Bosnian Serb indicted for war crimes has killed himself by detonating a hand grenade while trying to resist arrest by officers of the NATO Stabilization Force (SFOR), the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina announced today.
Four SFOR officers and one of the suspect's family members were injured in the blast, which took place yesterday in Foca, an eastern town in the Republika Srpska.
The suspect, Janko Janjic, had been indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia for crimes committed in 1992 and 1993, when he was sub-commander of the military police and a paramilitary leader. He was accused of torturing and raping Bosniak women.
Tribunal Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte today commended the SFOR soldiers for their courage and expressed regret that the attempted arrest ended in tragedy. "It is regrettable that Janko Janjic, who had previously threatened to kill himself and others should an arrest attempt be made, chose to exercise this option, thus endangering the lives of SFOR soldiers as well," she said.
The Prosecutor pointed out that the application of justice to a region that is still not at peace "continues to be a dangerous business." Yesterday's incident underscored the need for those who have been publicly accused to voluntarily surrender as soon as possible, she said.
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