Individual Indicted in Connection with Machine Gun Attack on U.S. Embassy in Bosnia-Herzegovina in 2011

WASHINGTON – Mevlid Jasarevic, 23, a citizen of Serbia, was indicted today by a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia on charges of attempted murder and other violations in connection with his alleged machine gun attack on the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, on Oct. 28, 2011.

 The indictment was announced by Lisa Monaco, Assistant Attorney General for National Security; Ronald C. Machen Jr., U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia; and James W. McJunkin, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Division.

 The 10-count indictment charges Jasarevic with one count of attempt to murder U.S. officers or employees; one count of attempt to murder U.S. nationals within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States (the U.S. Embassy); one count of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States; one count of assaulting U.S. officers or employees with a deadly weapon; one count of destruction of property within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States; and five counts of use of a firearm during a crime of violence.

 Yesterday, authorities in Bosnia-Herzegovina brought charges against Jasaveric and two others in connection with the alleged attack on the U.S. Embassy.  Jasaveric is in the custody of Bosnia-Herzegovina authorities.  The United States has closely cooperated with Bosnia-Herzegovina authorities in their investigation of the U.S. Embassy attack and strongly supports their decision to charge and prosecute those allegedly involved.  The United States will continue to cooperate fully with authorities in Bosnia-Herzegovina to bring to justice those involved.

 The case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Bowman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Joshua Larocca of the Counterterrorism Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.  The Office of International Affairs in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division also provided assistance.

 The attempted murder charges against Jasarevic, as well as the charges of assaulting U.S. officers and employees with a deadly weapon, and destruction of property each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years.  Each charge of using a firearm during a crime of violence carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years for use of a machinegun.  The charge of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.

 The public is reminded that an indictment contains mere allegations.  Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.