Serbia prosecutors order arrest of suspected US embassy arsonist News
Serbia prosecutors order arrest of suspected US embassy arsonist

[JURIST] Serbian prosecutors on Tuesday ordered the arrest of an unidentified suspect believed to be responsible for the burning of the US embassy [JURIST report] in Belgrade last month. The unidentified suspect, who is facing charges of violating public security and theft, faces a maximum sentence of up to 12 years in prison. On February 22, Serbian demonstrators set fire to the US Embassy in Belgrade [official website] after an estimated 150,000 people gathered to protest Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence [text; JURIST report].

Last Friday, Serbian police filed criminal charges against 80 people allegedly involved in the attacks on the US and other embassies in Belgrade during protests the Kosovo [JURIST news archive] independence protests. Serbian chief prosecutor Slobodan Radovanovic has said that Serbia is actively searching for the rioters [JURIST report], noting that Serbian police have already arrested over 200 suspects. The United States, Great Britain, Italy, Turkey, France, and Germany have recognized Kosovo's independence [JURIST report]. AP has more.