United States Embassy in Sarajevo
Encyclopedia
The U.S. State Department opened the United States Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
on July 4, 1994.
Bosnia and Herzegovina had formerly been a part of Yugoslavia
; the United States recognized independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina on April 7, 1992 .
In the month following al Qaeda's bombing of the World Trade Center
on September 11, 2001 American intelligence analysts became concerned that Arab immigrants in Bosnia and Herzegovina planned to attack the US Embassy in Sarajevo.
In early October 2001, under pressure from the United States, six men of Algerian descent were arrested by the police of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Bosna and Herzegovina officials said American officials had assured them that they had evidence, including wiretaps, proving that the six men were in contact with an al Qaeda leader in Afghanistan
, but American officials did not provide that evidence.
From October 2001 to January 2002 the six men went through the Bosnian equivalent of habeas corpus
. In January 2002 the case made its way to the Bosnian Supreme Court.
The six men continued to face allegations that they had participated in a plot to bomb the Embassy at their 2004 Combatant Status Review Tribunal
s, and at their annual Administrative Review Board
hearings in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
The men testified that their interrogators had never asked them about the plot, which lead them to believe they recognized that there was no plot.
In 2008, after the Guantanamo captives had their access to habeas corpus
in the US justice system restored, the United States Department of Justice
acknowledged that there had never been any evidence of a bomb plot.
A gunman, a Wahhabi Islamist, fired on the embassy on 28 October 2011, resulting in one local policeman guarding the embassy being wounded in the arm by the gunman, while the shooter was wounded by a police sniper.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
on July 4, 1994.
Bosnia and Herzegovina had formerly been a part of Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
; the United States recognized independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina on April 7, 1992 .
In the month following al Qaeda's bombing of the World Trade Center
World Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
on September 11, 2001 American intelligence analysts became concerned that Arab immigrants in Bosnia and Herzegovina planned to attack the US Embassy in Sarajevo.
In early October 2001, under pressure from the United States, six men of Algerian descent were arrested by the police of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Bosna and Herzegovina officials said American officials had assured them that they had evidence, including wiretaps, proving that the six men were in contact with an al Qaeda leader in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, but American officials did not provide that evidence.
From October 2001 to January 2002 the six men went through the Bosnian equivalent of habeas corpus
Habeas corpus
is a writ, or legal action, through which a prisoner can be released from unlawful detention. The remedy can be sought by the prisoner or by another person coming to his aid. Habeas corpus originated in the English legal system, but it is now available in many nations...
. In January 2002 the case made its way to the Bosnian Supreme Court.
The six men continued to face allegations that they had participated in a plot to bomb the Embassy at their 2004 Combatant Status Review Tribunal
Combatant Status Review Tribunal
The Combatant Status Review Tribunals were a set of tribunals for confirming whether detainees held by the United States at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp had been correctly designated as "enemy combatants". The CSRTs were established July 7, 2004 by order of U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense...
s, and at their annual Administrative Review Board
Administrative Review Board
The Administrative Review Board is a United States military body that conducts an annual review of the suspects held by the United States in Camp Delta in the United States Navy base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba....
hearings in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
The men testified that their interrogators had never asked them about the plot, which lead them to believe they recognized that there was no plot.
In 2008, after the Guantanamo captives had their access to habeas corpus
Habeas corpus
is a writ, or legal action, through which a prisoner can be released from unlawful detention. The remedy can be sought by the prisoner or by another person coming to his aid. Habeas corpus originated in the English legal system, but it is now available in many nations...
in the US justice system restored, the United States Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
acknowledged that there had never been any evidence of a bomb plot.
A gunman, a Wahhabi Islamist, fired on the embassy on 28 October 2011, resulting in one local policeman guarding the embassy being wounded in the arm by the gunman, while the shooter was wounded by a police sniper.