Bosnian police have arrested a Polish national in connection with the arson of an altar at the Međugorje shrine, a major Catholic pilgrimage site in Herzegovina.
The suspect, identified as Bartlomiej Wlodzimierz Krakowiak, was taken into custody following the incident, which has drawn significant regional attention.
The arrest comes amid reports that local political figures, including members of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ BiH), are attempting to leverage the event to stoke inter-ethnic tensions.
Authorities have moved quickly to contain the narrative, emphasizing the criminal nature of the act rather than any broader political or ethnic conflict.
Međugorje remains a sensitive location in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where religious sites often intersect with complex ethnic and political dynamics.
The incident has reignited discussions about security at major pilgrimage sites and the potential for political exploitation of religious symbols.