A major military and police operation unfolded near the Serbia–Hungary border on Sunday morning, after Serbian authorities received intelligence suggesting a possible threat to critical gas infrastructure connecting the two countries.

According to reports from Serbian outlet Blic, later cited by Serbia Monitor, roads in the Kanjiža municipality near Oromhegyes (Trešnjevac) were sealed off as heavily armed police and military units moved into the area with off-road vehicles, minibuses, helicopters, drones and tracker dogs.

The operation focused on roads leading from Oromhegyes towards Ilonafalu (Vojvoda Zimonjić) and Velebit, with some villages reportedly placed under a full cordon. Local reports said there was no entry or exit from Oromhegyes for hours as security forces conducted a combined ground and aerial sweep.

Suspicious bags with explosives reportedly found

The most alarming development came when Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said security units discovered two large backpacks containing explosives and detonation fuses just a few hundred metres from the gas pipeline.

According to Vučić, the explosive devices were found during a sweep by military police, criminal investigators and special units deployed to protect the pipeline and nearby compressor infrastructure.

He said helicopters played a major role in locating the suspicious objects across the large rural search area, while counter-sabotage teams, thermal cameras and drones were also used.

The Subotica Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office reportedly authorised the search after intelligence indicated that

both the gas infrastructure and local residents could be at risk.

Orbán informed immediately

Vučić confirmed that he held an urgent phone call with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán after the discovery.

According to the Serbian president, he informed Orbán about the first findings of the investigation and warned that any successful attack could have disrupted gas supplies to Hungary as well as northern Serbia.

The cross-border pipeline is strategically important for Hungary’s energy security, particularly due to the region’s ongoing supply concerns and the political debate around Russian gas routes.

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More than 130 officers mobilised

Reports say more than 130 interior ministry personnel took part in the special operation, alongside members of Serbia’s 72nd Special Brigade, military police, criminal police units and explosive ordnance teams.

Search dogs, drones and helicopters remained active above the area as investigators continued to examine the suspicious objects and surrounding terrain.

Authorities have not yet officially disclosed who may have placed the explosives or whether any suspects have been identified.

Find photos of the scene in Blic’s article.

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