In a significant crackdown on terrorism, four individuals were apprehended in western North Macedonia on Sunday, as reported by the authorities.

The Interior Minister, Panche Toshkovski, confirmed that the arrests took place during coordinated operations in the towns of Struga and Gostivar.

These four suspects are believed to have links to terrorist organizations and have been under surveillance for an extended period.

All arrested individuals are citizens of North Macedonia, and they were set to appear before an investigative magistrate later that day.

While the Minister did not disclose specific names of the terrorist organizations involved, he highlighted the reasonable suspicion of their connections to groups that endorse various extremist and religious ideologies.

According to Toshkovski, the main objective of these individuals was to indoctrinate others in the Balkans to take actions aligned with their plans.

If found guilty of attempting to commit terrorism, the suspects could face a prison sentence of up to eight years.

This recent operation follows a previous incident in December 2020, when North Macedonian law enforcement detained eight men suspected of plotting attacks against individuals and public facilities, allegedly under the inspiration of the Islamic State group.

The ongoing efforts by local authorities to combat extremism reflect a broader commitment to enhancing national security in the region.