Bolivian officials were investigating what an international group of alleged mercenaries were doing in Bolivia. Among three men killed and two arrested in a police shootout in Santa Cruz, at least two fought for Croatian independence, according to government officials. The group was monitored until it launched a dynamite attack at the house of Cardinal Julio Terrazas that caused no fatalities.Police commander General Victor Hugo Escobar identified the dead ringleader as Eduardo Rosza Flores, son of a Hungarian father and Bolivian mother. Rosza commanded a brigade in the Balkans. Police also killed Magyarosi Arpak, a Romanian sniper, and Michel Martin Dwyer, an Irish expert in martial arts and weapons. Police arrested Mario Francisco Tadik Astorga, 58, a Bolivian-Croatian who also fought in the Balkans, and Elot Toazo, a Hungarian computer science expert.
Police seized an arsenal, computers containing city plans of Santa Cruz and La Paz and a list of possible targets. The government said the group planned to attack the president, vice president and other authorities and personalities, including Santa Cruz Gov. Ruben Costas, a leader of political opposition to Morales.