Extremist held as Kosovo cracks down on terrorism

A massive police crackdown against "extremist" elements kicked off in Kosovo Thursday, police said.

The Imam of Grand Mosque, Shefqet Krasniqi was arrested in the police operation. He was questioned by police and released afterwards, though investigation against him will continue, Xinhua quoted the Kosovo police as saying.

Krasniqi has been suspected of incitement of hate, discord or racial, religious or ethnic intolerance, the Special Prosecution of Kosovo said.

Kosovo Islamic Community confirmed the news about the provisional detention of Krasniqi.

However, police did not reveal how many other people were questioned, but confirmed that the operation took place in ten localities in five cities across Kosovo, including a private house, two NGOs and seven student's hostels.

The operation comes in the wake of an ongoing investigation in connection with August's police operation in which 43 people were arrested on terrorism charges.

As many as 43 suspected jihadis were arrested for fighting in Syria and Iraq alongside terrorist organisations such as Islamic State (IS) and Al Nusra.