Close call: Kosovo foils “synchronized” ISIS attacks — one on Israeli soccer team

[Valin]

Hot Air:

Ed Morrissey

November 17, 2016

 

Kosovo’s security forces have arrested 19 people over the last two weeks while breaking up an ISIS terror cell that took aim at World Cup soccer — and the Israelis in particular. Working in tandem with Macedonia and Albania, authorities changed venues for games while tracking the cell, eventually uncovering a cell pursuing a multi-pronged attack strategy that might have been the worst ISIS attack in the West since Paris:

 

 

 

Simultaneous attacks by ISIS have been foiled — including one targeting the Israeli national soccer team, police in Kosovo said.

 

According to a statement issued Thursday, 18 people were arrested in Kosovo and six more across both Albania and Macedonia. Police said explosive devices, weapons, electronic equipment and a drone were recovered.

 

Reuters has more on their plans for “synchronized terror attacks”:

 

 

The police said the suspects were in contact with an Islamic State member, the self-declared “commander of Albanians in Syria and Iraq”, Lavdrim Muhaxheri, from whom they received orders to attack.

 

“They were planning to commit terrorist attacks in Kosovo and also (an attack) against Israeli football team and their fans during the Albania-Israel match,” Kosovo police said in a statement in the evening.

 

Albania moved a World Cup European qualifying match with Israel on Nov. 12 from the northern city of Shkoder to a venue near the capital Tirana because of fears of a possible attack by militants.

 

(Snip)