He placed a fake bomb at a fuel station and threatened the owner with 50,000 euros, 21-year-old arrested in Dibër

A 21-year-old was arrested this Saturday in Dibër, after yesterday he threatened the owner of a fuel station with a fake bomb and a threatening letter, demanding 50,000 euros.

According to police reports, E. K., 21, was arrested. He placed the suspicious box on the premises of the fuel station, on top of which were a screen, electronic parts and wires, creating the suspicion that it was a remotely controlled explosive device.

Immediately after receiving this report, the RENEA special forces opened the box and discovered that there was no explosive material inside it.

The full police statement:

On 02.10.2026, the services of the Dibër Police Commissariat, in cooperation with the Sector for the Investigation of Serious Crimes and the Operational services at the Dibër Police Directorate, finalized the police operation codenamed “The Threat”.

As a result of the immediate response and intensive investigation, within a few hours it was possible to identify, capture and arrest in flagrante delicto citizen E. K., 21, suspected of the criminal offence of “Coercion through threats or violence to give up property”.

After the arrival of RENEA’s special engineer forces, the box was opened and checked, and it turned out that there was no explosive material inside it.

From the investigations carried out, it emerged that this citizen is suspected of having, at around 14:30, on the premises of a fuel station owned by citizen Z. Sh., placed a suspicious box, on top of which were a screen, electronic parts and wires, creating the suspicion that it was a remotely controlled explosive device.

On the box was placed a threatening letter, through which payment of the sum of 50,000 euros was demanded, in the form of a fine. The payment was demanded to be made in cryptocurrencies, through a cryptocurrency exchange point, at the address specified by the perpetrator.

In the letter, the perpetrator threatened that the box would explode if the payment was not made within the deadline set by him, if the box was moved, or if the Police or other persons were notified.

He also claimed that the box contained C4 explosive material, was equipped with motion sensors and remote control, and that the premises were monitored by cameras.

Under the direction of the Prosecution, work continues to fully document the circumstances of the event and to identify other persons who may have been involved.

The procedural materials were referred to the Dibër Prosecution for further action.