2016 Balkans terrorism plot

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| title = 2016 Balkans terrorism plot

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| location = Kosovo
Macedonia
Albania

| target = international and state institutions in Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia

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| date = {{start date|2016|11|12|df=yes}}

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| type = Terror plot

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Simultaneous attacks planned in Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia were thwarted in November 2016.{{cite news |last=Stanglin |first=Doug |date=17 November 2016 |title=Kosovo thwarts 'synchronized' Islamic State terror attacks |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/11/17/police-isil-attacks-thwarted-kosovo/94013658/ |newspaper=USA Today |department=News}}

Nineteen people were arrested in Kosovo, and six more in Albania and Macedonia, for a total of twenty five arrests, making it one of the largest terror-related arrests in Europe in recent years.{{cite news |last=Dearden |first=Lizzie |date=17 November 2016 |title=Isis attack on Israeli football team foiled by police at World Cup qualifier in Albania |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/isis-attack-israeli-israel-football-team-police-kosovo-terror-simultaneous-a7422696.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/isis-attack-israeli-israel-football-team-police-kosovo-terror-simultaneous-a7422696.html |archive-date=2022-05-01 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |newspaper=The Independent |department=World News}}{{cbignore}} Explosives, weapons, electronic equipment, and material related to extremist religious groups were seized during the raids following the arrests.{{cite news |last=Veselinovic |first=Milena |date=17 November 2016 |title=ISIS attack on Israeli soccer team thwarted, Kosovo police say |url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/17/europe/kosovo-terror-plot/ |website=CNN |department=Europe}}{{Update inline|date=June 2018|reason=And then what happened? Were they charged with any crimes? Did they confess? Were they convicted? Were they released the next day? Were all charges dropped? Were the cases thrown out of court?}}

The suspects, planning "synchronized terror attacks," were receiving orders from Islamic State member Lavdrim Muhaxheri.{{cite report |author=Homeland Security Committee |date=December 2016 |title=Terror Threat Snapshot |url=https://homeland.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/December-Terror-Threat-Snapshot.pdf |publisher=The United States House of Representatives |access-date=2017-03-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170430053640/https://homeland.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/December-Terror-Threat-Snapshot.pdf |archivedate=2017-04-30 |url-status=dead }} Between 4 and 16 November 2016, eighteen Kosovo Albanians and one Macedonian Albanian were arrested suspected of planning terrorist attacks in Kosovo and Albania. They were coordinated by Muhaxheri and fellow IS fighter Ridvan Haqifi. According to the prosecution, the terrorist group planned attacks on international and state institutions, ultimately with the intent to establish an Islamic state. Media reports state that Kosovo government institutions and Serbian Orthodox Church sites were potential targets.{{cite news|title=Lavdrim Muhaxheri, ISIS Warrior, Remains Threat to Kosovo|date=18 November 2016|publisher=Balkan Insight|url=http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/lavdrim-muhaxheri-remains-a-threat-for-kosovo-11-17-2016}} Among the planned targets were the Israel national football team and their supporters during the Albania–Israel World Cup qualifying match.{{cite news |date=17 November 2016 |title=ISIS Attack on Israeli National Soccer Team Foiled: Kosovo Cops |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/isis-terror/isis-attack-israeli-national-soccer-team-foiled-kosovo-cops-n685241 |website=NBC News |department=ISIS Terror}}{{cite news|last1=Squires|first1=Nick|title=Italian police break up alleged jihadist cell that planned to attack Venice's Rialto Bridge|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/30/italian-police-break-alleged-jihadist-cell-planned-attack-venices/|accessdate=3 April 2017|publisher=The Telegraph|date=30 March 2017}}

In February 2017, Albania announced that it would join the counter-Islamic State efforts, and send troops to Iraq. Although it was not officially confirmed by the Albanian authorities, it is largely believed{{by whom|date=September 2017}} that this first active involvement of Albania in the fighting against ISIS in Iraq was triggered by the failed terror attack on Albanian soil three months earlier.{{cite web |url=http://terror-alert.com/news/isis-target-world-cup-qualifier-european-country-reacts-with-fury-to-bomb-and-drone-plot?uid=50609 |title=ISIS target World Cup qualifier: European country reacts with fury to bomb and drone plot |publisher=WorldAlert |date=1 March 2017 |website=terror-alert.com |access-date=30 March 2017}}{{cite news |date=1 March 2017 |title=Albanian Defense Minister announces initiative to deploy troops to Iraq |url=http://www.nrttv.com/en/Details.aspx?Jimare=12880 |website=NRT News}}