Interior Minister Shamata explains how the organization operated “This is how we planted the bomb at VEFA” Terrorist gang: 26 crimes in four years Mentor Kikia TIRANA - “While Altin Arapi was talking with one of the guards at the ‘VEFA’ supermarket, the other had parked the car bomb in front of its entrance and lit the explosive’s fuse. A few minutes later, the explosion occurred.” Leart Shyti, one of the leaders of the terrorist organization, described how they carried out the car-bomb explosion. The statements taken during the investigation were made public on television. But why did these people have to go so far? “The economic side and hatred for the rotten state you have built. As for me personally, I did nothing that I should have done to carry out my revenge.” A different scenario had been prepared for the VEFA tragedy, but it failed. Altin Arapi was to place on the supermarket counters a package of explosives wrapped like “those sold there.” After that, they had chosen the car-bomb method. According to Shyti’s testimony, his brother Orik Shyti always gave the orders for everything. A non-commissioned officer was also involved in the attack, but his name has not been made public. “It had been arranged that he would prepare the explosive. We chose a Fiat ‘TIPO’, since it looked like a police car and for that reason they would not move it when we parked it in front of the supermarket. After lighting the fuse, they left, and then the explosion occurred. Afterward, Oriku ordered people to stay and watch how events unfolded.” The statements given during the investigation have also cleared up the mystery surrounding the murder of Bujar Kalo-si. It was Enkelejed Agaj who described how the attack on the director of prisons was carried out near his home. “Before the attack, we went to consult Orik’s father, Haredin, in Bënça prison. The day before, at the VIP bar, Oriku assigned us our duties. Altini was to kill Bujari, while I was to kill the driver. We worked to learn Bujari’s movements and chose the most suitable moment: the morning, when he left his house. Altini fired three times at Bujari, while I could not kill the driver.” PHOTO: The car-bomb explosion at “VEFA”; (above) the brothers Orik and Leart Shyti TIRANA - “The terrorist organization ‘Albanian Revenge of Justice’ has claimed responsibility for all the serious crimes and robberies that have recently taken place in Tirana and other parts of the country”—Interior Minister Halit Shamata himself officially confirmed yesterday the results of the police’s major operation in Tirana. Seven young men have been arrested as leaders of the organization, and around 14 others are wanted. A police officer from Police Station 1 in Tirana was also arrested with them as a member of the gang. As of yesterday, the most prominent name said by the police to be linked to the organization was that of Enver Hoxha’s son-in-law, Klement Kolo-nec? He was arrested yesterday on suspicion of involvement in terrorist gangs and was sent to Durrës prison. But the number of detainees appears likely to increase in the coming days. “The scope of the investigation has expanded considerably, and it is still ongoing,” Shamata confirmed yesterday at a press conference. Shamata described the Tirana organization as an offshoot of the State Security service that “has not yet breathed its last.” According to Shamata, the criminal organization aimed to destabilize the country, and all its activities were purely political in nature. It operated according to a plan devised “by highly skilled specialists in this field.” Its leadership consisted of the head, Orik Shyti, and his two sons, each with three leaders. The crime branch was responsible for recruiting members and carrying out murders and terrorist acts, while the finance branch was responsible for securing funds through robberies of banks, companies and various firms. The police also made public a document describing the criteria a person had to meet to join the organization. To become a member of the organization, you had to carry out an attack on a member of the armed forces of the Ministry of the Interior Hoxha’s son-in-law arrested. “A safe containing money stolen from banks was found in Kolonec[it?]’s home” Seven gang leaders and many members in handcuffs. A police officer from Police Station 1 has also ended up in a cell Articles on page 9 ... on buses. ... everything was given to him—according to Shyqti’s testimony—by his brother, Orik Shyti. One ... was also involved in the attack ... on Bujari, while I could not put the ... house ... The car-bomb explosion at “VEFA”; (Above) brothers Orik and Leart Shyti police officer at Police Station 1 in Tirana as a member of this gang. Until yesterday, the most prominent name that, according to the police, is linked to this ... who “has not yet given up the ghost.” According to Shamata, the criminal organization had the aim of ... various. The police have had to meet to join the organization. Articles on page 9

Shehu: “They insult the dignity of the Nation” OSCE/ODIHR observers On page 3

At the request of six parties TIRANA - “Voting will end at 21:00.” The response about the closing time for voting came yesterday from the president’s offices. “Everything has been established by law and by the will of the political forces expressed at the presidential round tables.” This is what the press release distributed yesterday by the Presidency says, just one day after the opposition requested that voting hours be shortened. Describing the opposition’s request as a “subjective and debatable assessment,” the presidential position rules out any possibility of shortening voting hours on Sunday. On page 3

Tomson the maniac: three more years behind bars TIRANA - The English pedophile, Paul Tomson, was also sentenced by the Court of Appeal. Yesterday, the judges made no changes to the sentence handed down a few weeks ago by the Tirana court to the child-obsessed maniac, a 32-year-old from England. On the charge of committing indecent acts with minors, he had been sentenced by the court of first instance to three years in prison, and yesterday he was given the same sentence. His lawyer asked that he be declared a person to be expelled from Albania, but the judges sent him back to prison. On page 11 The English pedophile, Tomson

Flowers and tributes at Hoxha’s grave On page 11 Yesterday at the grave of the dictator Hoxha

Berat: no to mobilization and the national anthem Faith in God sends them to prison Problems for Jehovah’s Witnesses BERAT - Faith in God risks sending five young men from Berat to prison. The charge against them comes from the military recruitment office, because they are seeking to avoid conscription for compulsory service. The young men are Jehovah’s Witnesses, and their sect, which preaches peace and opposes violence, does not allow them to be mobilized for military service. They have already been tried once on the same charge and fined. But this time, under the penal code, they also risk imprisonment. Last year, two young men from Berat, also Jehovah’s Witnesses, were locked up for six months. Members of this new religious sect have also encountered problems in schools. Last year, 12 children belonging to this sect left school because they refused to sing the national anthem together with the others. Berat has around 500 Jehovah’s Witnesses and is also their largest center in Albania. Halit Tafa Berat

NO REPRESENTATIVES IN THE ELECTIONS A night among doctors and the injured TIRANA - Bloodied people, anxious relatives, and white coats rushing to help the “victims”—facts... This is how we spent a night in the Emergency Surgery Department at the Military Hospital in the capital. Accidents, people who had been beaten, often serious gunshot wounds, not to mention the severe trauma cases that arrive every night at the well-known building, at least in Tirana. On page 11

Rome disaster Porto’s third victory ALBANIAN GAZETTE Sport Milan heading for Italy Germany: Dortmund on course to qualify after a convincing victory Italy: Juventus wins the title for the season On pages 5–8

The car-bomb explosion at “VEFA”; (Above) brothers Orik and Leart Shyti