Kosovo Police Arrest 19 Suspected IS Militants Over 'Planned Attacks'

By RFE/RL

Police in Kosovo say they have arrested 19 people on suspicion of having links to so-called Islamic State militants and planning to carry out a series of major terrorist attacks -- including an attack in neighboring Albania during a soccer match between Israel and Albania.

Authorities in Pristina said on November 16 that the suspects had been arrested during the past 10 days.

They said four of the arrests thwarted a planned attack in Albania aimed at Israeli soccer players and their fans during a November 12 World Cup European qualifying match.

They said the match was moved from the northern Albanian city of Shkoder to Tirana after the attack plot was discovered.

Police said all 19 recently arrested suspects received attack orders from Lavdrim Muhaxheri -- an Islamic State member who has declared himself as the "commander of Albanians in Syria and Iraq."

With reporting by Reuters