Police arrested two people after clashes between groups of young men from Croatian and Bosniak backgrounds in the southern Bosnian town of Stolac, following vandalism of a mural dedicated to Vukovar and the later appearance of graffiti referencing Srebrenica, local authorities said on Monday.
The Ministry of Interior of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton said the incident took place on Sunday evening when a larger altercation broke out between several individuals. Police restored order and detained two suspects identified by initials V.Č. (1993) and N.R. (1984). No injuries were reported.
Local officials said the unrest followed a series of incidents involving political and war-related symbolism in public spaces.
A mural dedicated to Vukovar victims was painted near a roundabout on Saturday but was later damaged and covered in black paint. On Sunday, graffiti referencing Srebrenica appeared at another roundabout in the town, which lies in southern Bosnia near the Neretva river.
Stolac mayor Stjepan Bošković said the city had not authorised any murals or graffiti on public property and stressed that such activities are strictly prohibited.
In a statement, Bošković condemned the violence and thanked police for their rapid response, calling for increased patrols to prevent further escalation and maintain public order.
Authorities said the situation has been brought under control, while investigations into the incident are ongoing.