Albanian authorities are investigating the involvement of a possible third accomplice linked to Erzen (Hamza) Uka and Julian (Adem) Cumraku, the two men arrested after a 12-hour standoff with special forces in the remote village of Orosh, Fushë-Arrëz. The pair had barricaded themselves inside an abandoned stone tower, where they had reportedly been living for about a month.

According to details made public this Wednesday, police believe the two suspects received support from another man who frequently travelled from Tirana to Fushë-Arrëz and Orosh. Witnesses in the town of Fushë-Arrëz recall seeing Uka, Cumraku and a third individual — described as having long hair and sometimes wearing camouflage trousers — making brief visits to local cafés while keeping their heads lowered. The unidentified man, who is thought to own a vehicle, was last seen on the evening of 18 November, standing in a dimly lit area of the town centre while the other two made purchases.

His appearance reportedly fuelled early rumours about the involvement of two women at the tower, due to his long hair being mistaken from a distance. Residents have also seen him cutting wood and moving supplies with the two arrested men.

Police have searched a former residence in Valias, Tirana, where Uka and Cumraku had lived on rent months earlier, though no materials relevant to the investigation were found.

The two men, currently held at the Shkodër Police Directorate awaiting security measures, have refused to cooperate with investigators. During interrogations, they allegedly described officers as “shejtan” (devils) and stated they recognise only God’s authority to judge them. Uka was taken to Shkodër Regional Hospital this morning for treatment of a leg injury.

Footage obtained by Report TV also shows the small mosque in the village of Kryezi, where both men reportedly attended Friday prayers. The mosque is said to be outside the supervision of the Puka Muftinia and does not appear in its official property records. The Muslim Community of Albania has declined to comment, maintaining its standard policy regarding similar cases.

A search of the tower following the pair’s surrender uncovered a substantial cache of weapons: four automatic rifles, a pistol, 17 defensive grenades, around 2,000 rounds of ammunition, electric detonator caps, a firing fuse and two shell casings. A flag of the ISIS terrorist organisation was found mounted on a wall among the weapons.

The Shkodër Prosecutor’s Office has opened investigations into multiple charges, including incitement and propaganda for committing terrorist acts, production of military weapons, resisting police officers, and illegal possession of explosive weapons and ammunition. The search for the suspected third accomplice remains ongoing.