Local police deployed additional troops to prevent the latest in a series of clashes among Bosnian Croat and Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) youths in the divided city of Mostar.

Dozens of teenagers gathered on Sunday the night of November 23 on each side of Mostar's main boulevard, the thoroughfare which passes through the centre of town, which was the wartime front line between the Bosnian Croat and Bosniak-dominated Bosnian Armies. Alerted by members of the general public, local police swiftly deployed and prevented an incident.

Up to five persons were briefly detained, police officials told media on November 24.

Ethnic tensions among youths in Mostar soared after a brawl broke out during a local soccer match last week. Throughout the week these tensions triggered a series of smaller incidents and escalated in a major fight on the afternoon of November 21, which involved a few dozen youths, local media reported over the weekend.

One Bosniak teenager was slightly injured in the clash. On that occasion, police arrested one and identified four more suspects. Because of the soaring tensions, police maintained a reinforced presence in the city throughout the weekend, ready to prevent any further violence.
 
Police officials also complained that the city school administration was aware of the brewing tensions but did nothing to prevent it or alert the police in time.
 
Bosniaks and Bosnian Croats fought bitterly for a year during Bosnia's 1992-1995 war. Mostar was heavily damaged during this conflict and remained effectively divided for years.
 
The international community has invested extra efforts in normalising the situation in this town, which is seen as a test case for survival of Bosnia's ethnic tolerance. However, ethnic tensions in this town still persist and occasionally flare.

Source: Balkan Insight