A cruise ship security officer has been arrested in Italy on suspicion of war crimes linked to the Balkan conflicts decades ago.
Milan Babic, 58, was taken into custody when his MSC Cruises ship docked at the Port of Civitavecchia (Rome) after arriving from Genoa. He holds dual Serbian-Croatian citizenship.
Ship Security Officer Facing Extradition to Croatia
He was apprehended on an international arrest warrant issued by Croatia earlier this year. Authorities allege he was involved in ethnic cleansing operations during the 1990s in the former Yugoslavia. Babic is also wanted by Serbia in connection with the alleged murder of a Serbian national.
He is currently in custody awaiting an extradition hearing. An Italian court is expected to decide whether he will be sent to Croatia to face possible trial.
Italian news outlet Corriere della Sera reported that Babic had been employed by MSC Cruises for years, allegedly using a false identity.
According to officials, Babic was disembarking with other crew members in Civitavecchia when he became suspicious of what he believed were undercover officers. He returned to the ship and hid in a space near the engine room.
Search Lasted Hours Before Arrest
Border police spent more than three hours searching the vessel before locating and arresting him, officials said.
Prosecutors allege Babic was able to work for years by slightly altering his name on official documents. Italian authorities worked with the cruise line and immigration officials to confirm his identity.
Authorities say Babic was a member of a paramilitary unit operating in the Krajina region during the Serbo-Croatian War. The arrest warrant accuses him of “violent acts, deportations, and killings.”
