(17 Jul 1997) Eng/Serbo-Croat/Nat
A group of Bosnian Serbs is threatening to attack UK troops in Bosnia - less than 24 hours after a series of explosions at a British military compound.
On Thursday, the groups announced they were re-forming a secret organisation called Black Hand which fought for Serbian independence before the First World War.
A notice warned that the Black Hand now considered S-FOR an occupying force.
NATO soldiers were Thursday investigating four explosions which shook a British military compound near Banja Luka in Serb-held Bosnia.
The blasts occurred one week after British troops made the first NATO raid to seize Bosnian Serb war criminals.
The tougher Western approach has angered Bosnian Serbs.
In the past week bombs have destroyed vehicles and buildings used by international officials.
Late Wednesday, several intruders were discovered in the car park compound of the British base and three explosive devices went off.
Soon afterwards British soldiers detained four civilians and handed them over to Serb police.
A few hours later there was a fourth blast.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"At approximately 23.30 hours, last night, there were a number of explosions in the vehicle park of an S-FOR base at the Wood Factory in Banja Luka. S-FOR conducted an immediate cordon and search. The area was quickly secured, there were no casualties and a number of individuals were detained for questioning."
SUPER CAPTION: Major Mitford Slade, Commander of the SFOR vehicle base in Banja Luka
While the military were investigating last night's blasts, Bosnian Serbs announced they were reviving a secret organisation known as Black Hand.
The announcement, pinned to a tree, said the revival was caused by the S-FOR raid last week which saw the death of suspected war criminal Simo Drljaca.
The notice warned that S-FOR would now be considered the occupier of the Republik of Srpska and would be the target of Black Hand attacks.
But not everyone in Banja Luka support the group.
SOUNDBITE: (Serbo Croat)
"This is a shame. I believe the Republik of Srpska is still capable of finding those who tie the "Black Hand" around the neck of our citizens. This is an own goal for Serb politics which will conduct the ethnic cleansing of the Republic of Srpska citizens".
SUPER CAPTION: Nikola Spiric, one of the opposition leaders from Banja Luka
Another opposition leader Radoslav Brdjanin said he believed the organisation was set up by criminals who wanted to save what they earned in the war.
SOUNDBITE: (Serbo-Croat)
"They would be prepared to sacrifice these people, proclaim war on the NATO pact."
SUPER CAPTION: Opposition leader Radoslav Brdjanin
As a result of the latest developments the commander of S-FOR troops in Bosnia, General William Crouch met Bosnian Serb member Momcilo Krajisnik in Pale.
Krajisnik had appealed for calm on Wednesday and told Serbs that implementing the Dayton peace agreement is in their interest.
Neither said anything after their short meeting, but General Crouch appeared visibly angry.
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