Military

Late in April, during a meeting between local officials and TFE representatives, it was agreed that Muslim civilian buses would be allowed to cross the Inter-Entity Boundary Line to visit a grave site. The crossing would be under International Police Task Force (IPTF) escort (an International Organization tasked to assist the civil police in monitoring, observing and inspecting law enforcement activities and facilities, including associated judicial organizations, structures and proceedings) and accompanied by Serb and Muslim police. However, the IPTF was not notified of the specific crossing. Soldiers from a TFE brigade were deployed near the crossing point to monitor, control and, if requested, block the crossing to inspect for weapons.

The group of Muslim civilians arrived at the crossing point, accompanied by the Muslim police. The Muslims stated that they were authorized to cross, but the International Police Task Force, at the site, stated that they had not been notified of such an agreement. The IPTF did not want the Muslims to cross without the presence of the Serb police. The IPTF requested that the TFE unit at the site block the road until the situation was resolved. Shortly after, two Bosnian Serb police arrived at the site, stated that they were unaware of the crossing, and said that they were not authorized to make a decision to allow the crossing.

A group of Bosnian Serb civilians arrived on their side of the crossing and tensions between the two groups increased. Two Muslims attempted to break through the road block, and it was decided to stop all traffic at the site. A TFE officer went to a nearby town to negotiate with the Serb Chief of Police, but was unsuccessful in locating him. The Federation and Bosnian Serb police did not want to talk to each other directly. As a result, negotiations had to occur separately between the two police agencies. The Serb Chief of Police from the local town arrived. The TFE officer in charge demanded that the Serb control his people on their respective side of the crossing.

Meanwhile, several dozen Muslims moved into a forested area out of observation of the TFE soldiers. When the Serbs discovered that the Muslims were attempting to bypass the blockade, they moved to confront them. A clash occurred between the two groups with several detonations, small arms fire, and reports that people were wounded. An armored personnel carrier brought forward for medical evacuation encountered more Muslims who threw stones at the vehicle. Medical evacuation helicopters were requested, but the request was denied because of the stone-throwing. Some of the wounded personnel were evacuated in privately owned vehicles by Muslims. The two entities eventually returned to their respective side of the crossing. In all, the incident resulted in seven casualties. One Muslim was killed by gunshot wounds in the initial clash, and six were wounded as they fled in panic through a marked minefield.