Three hand grenades hit Smederevo venues, teen (18) arrested

The Criminal Police Directorate, the Belgrade City Police Department and the Prokuplje Police Department arrested L. R. (18) from Belgrade. The work was coordinated by the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Smederevo. The suspect is charged over an attack that took place on June 26, in the early morning hours, on two hospitality venues in Smederevo.

According to the investigation, the suspect first activated and threw two hand grenades at a hospitality venue on the bank of the Danube. Immediately afterwards he threw one hand grenade at a nearby nightclub. The explosions caused property damage. No one was injured. Given the type of device used, that circumstance matters for how the case proceeds.

L. R. was held for up to 48 hours. Once that period ended, he was to be brought before the competent prosecutor with a criminal complaint. He faces charges of causing general danger and of the illegal production, possession, carrying and trafficking of weapons and explosive materials.

Why are three police departments working the case?

The attack happened in Smederevo, yet the suspect is from Belgrade and was arrested after weeks of checks. That is why three police departments were involved. The Criminal Police Directorate handles more complex cases that cross the boundaries of a single city. The Belgrade City Police Department worked on the part concerning the suspect and his movements, while the Prokuplje Police Department joined in on the operational checks.

Such a split is not unusual when the perpetrator is believed to come from another city while the offense was committed in a third place. Coordination was taken over by the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Smederevo, which has jurisdiction based on the place of the offense. It is the prosecution that directs the investigation, orders actions and ultimately assesses whether there is enough evidence for an indictment.

The gap in time between the attack and the arrest shows this was operational work rather than a catch in the act. Investigators had to connect traces from two separate venues, findings on the devices used, and data on the suspect’s movements before deciding to deprive him of liberty.

What the investigation is establishing now

The key question is the motive. An attack on two hospitality venues with hand grenades, moments apart, is as a rule not a random act. Prosecutors are therefore checking whether there is a link between the targeted venues, who their owners are, and whether there were earlier threats or disputes. At this stage the motive is not assumed, it is proven.

The second open question is possible accomplices. Obtaining the grenades, travelling to Smederevo and carrying out the attack are actions that investigators are examining to determine whether the suspect acted alone. The checks cover surveillance footage, communications and the origin of the explosives used.

Until a final verdict, L. R. is presumed innocent. At this point this is a matter of suspicion and a criminal complaint, not of an established set of facts. The final legal classification and the scope of responsibility will be determined by the court, based on the evidence the prosecution presents. Forensic analysis of the devices has yet to reveal their origin.

How common do you think intimidation is as a motive when hospitality venues are the target of an attack?