War Crimes Suspect Arrested in Alabama

0:00This is Cory with the story, and here's what is making news across Birmingham right now. A 70-year-old man accused of war crimes during the Bosnian War has been arrested in Mobile County, Alabama. Hamja Alu Keach faces extradition to Bosnia and Herzegovina for his alleged role in two deadly attacks back in 1992, while fighting with a Bosnian Muslim paramilitary group. Federal authorities detained him on Wednesday based on the foreign government's request. The case is now in federal court in the southern district of Alabama, where the U.S. attorney's office led by Sean P. Costello is involved. Alu Keach had been living quietly in the Wilmer area for years, blending into the community without drawing attention. Neighbors recall him and his family as peaceful folks who kept to themselves, raising animals, and even selling eggs locally. They described a low-key lifestyle that seemed far removed from any violent past, with limited English-making interactions sparse. Alu Keach's lawyers are pushing for his release under conditions so he can fight the extradition.

1:03They argue his advanced age, health issues, and solid local ties prove he's no threat and unlikely to flee. As the legal battle unfolds in court, this arrest sheds new light on efforts to hold Bosnian war figures accountable decades later.