Albania fans arrested with weapons ahead of Serbia match

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Police in Albania have arrested a man who claimed fut 16 coins to have flown a drone carrying a nationalist banner over a stadium in Serbia last year throughout a European Championship qualifier, in an incident that prompted fan violence plus a diplomatic spat involving the two countries.

Authorities stated 33-year-old Ismail Morinaj was arrested with 3 other men as aspect of a major security operation on the eve with the return match in Elbasan, Albania.

Morinaj, who's from the northeastern Kukes area but lives in Italy, is usually a frequent in the Albanian national team's away matches.

Two handguns, ammunition, and 36 match tickets have been seized, police mentioned. Morinaj was identified having a Serbian-made Zastava pistol in addition to a Chinese handgun.

Meanwhile, Serbian federation spokesman Aleksandar Boskovic told a news conference there had been a little incident, midday, from the airport, when some stones have been thrown against the bus, which was not damaged. He added that Serbian officials had informed UEFA with the incident.

Tirana police said they noticed a mark on the bus immediately after it arrived in the group hotel that was believed to possess been brought on from a stone thrown from a distance.''

Police mentioned they were operating to find these responsible.

Website traffic in Tirana's primary boulevard, exactly where the two hotels accommodating the Serbia group and the group of journalists accompanying them, was banned.

Police have taken difficult safety measures for Thursday's game, deploying more than two,000 officers, and enforcing road closures and also a huge visitors cordon about the stadium. Fans may have to show identification and be searched ahead of getting into Elbasan Arena.

Albanian Interior Minister Saimir Tahiri stated plain clothed officers would also be used. He stated officials from an elite police unit had been assigned to shield members in the Serbian national group.

"This is an opportunity to show our values in supporting the national team and hosting the guest team," he said.

In spite of the draconian security, travel officials together with the Serbian national team mentioned no plans had been created for Serbian fans to travel to Albania.

A group of 70 Serbian students is becoming hosted by Albanian households. They are to meet with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama on Thursday.

Albania is currently third in Group I with 11 points from six matches. Portugal leads with 15 points, followed by Denmark with 12 but possessing played an additional game.

The best two as well as the ideal third-place finisher in the nine groups qualify automatically, using the other third-place teams getting into a playoff.