A man accused of committing war crimes in Bosnia back in 1992 was captured in Mobile County.
Federal court records show that Hamdja Alukic was detained on Wednesday following an extradition request from the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He is accused of being involved in two deadly attacks on behalf of a Bosnian Muslim paramilitary group during the Bosnian War.
A former neighbor of Alukic told Fox 10 News that Alukic and his family lived a quiet life in Wilmer for several years.
“They had dogs, chickens and they would sell eggs to Walmart and stuff,” the neighbor told the outlet. “They were always cool. I’ve been over there a few times growing up and stuff. They were real foreign. They didn’t really talk the best English—the dad and the mom anyway.”
Attorneys for Alukic are requesting that he be released with conditions to prepare to oppose the extradition. Alukic, now 70 years old, is not a danger to the community, according to attorneys, who said they can show his advanced age, medical condition and character and background will demonstrate he is not a flight risk.
United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama Sean P. Costello’s office is handling the case in federal court.
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