Bosnia-Herzegovina ambassador, Salt Lake mayor urge compassion

With tears in her eyes, the Bosnia-Herzegovina ambassador to the United States offered her condolences today to Mayor Rocky Anderson.

"We lost 200,000 in Bosnia," said Ambassador Bisera Turkovic, speaking to a crowd at the Bosna restaurant in South Salt Lake. "Bosnians can and should understand the pain."

In Bosnia-Herzegovina, she said, "People are shocked, people are saddened."

A few members of the Bosnian community gathered today to meet with the mayor, the ambassador and Salt Lake Police Chief Chris Burbank, to try and find understanding in the aftermath of the shooting deaths of six people, including the gunman, on Monday at Trolley Square.

When it was discovered that the 18-year-old gunman, Sulejman Talovic, was a Bosnian Muslim, the shooting sparked talk of terrorism on blogs and the Internet. But Burbank said today that "there's nothing to indicate this had to do with race, religion or any other reason."

Burbank said that authorities are working to build an "entire profile" of Talovic, as they search for a motive, but authorities have yet to come across any answers.

Turkovic, who leaves Salt Lake tomorrow, said her nation's consulates and embassies have not taken any extra security precautions in the wake of the shootings. "Our people feel safe in America," she said.

Anderson acknowledged Monday's tragedy, while stressing that the act was committed by one man, and not a community. Anderson noted the value of Utah's Bosnian community and said more needs to be done to reach out, especially when it comes to youth.

"I urge everyone to reach out a helping hand and get to know our neighbors and do everything we can to show compassion toward those who are living in this area, who should be always welcome at the community table," Anderson said. "We not only build a stronger community, it enriches each of our individual lives...to get to know the life stories of people who have been through so much."

Slavolijub Josipovic, a member of the Bosnian Association, said he hoped the meeting today would help people understand that "we are all different. You cannot put all people in one basket."

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