The incident started within the early hours of Sunday morning, simply earlier than three o’clock. The location of the incident is the predominantly Serb-inhabited neighborhood of Zvecan in northern Kosovo.
In the Banjska district, a bunch of Serbs arrange a highway barricade consisting of two vehicles in entrance of a bridge. The Kosovo police arrived, then there was a shootout. One police officer was killed and one other was injured.
The attackers are mentioned to be round 30 folks. It was initially unclear who it was. According to Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti, they had been skilled Serbian fighters: “There are at least 30 heavily armed people who do this professionally, i.e. military or police officers. They continue to attack our police officers even after they killed Afrim Bunjaku and injured Alban Rashit. ”
Attackers barricaded themselves within the monastery
The combating continued and moved to the close by Serbian Orthodox monastery of Banjska. Some of the attackers barricaded themselves within the space, the Kosovo police positioned themselves in entrance of the monastery partitions.
Prime Minister Kurti launched aerial pictures at a press convention that had been supposed to point out the attackers. In one of many pictures, 4 masked folks with rifles may be seen sporting darkish inexperienced uniforms and bulletproof vests. They stand subsequent to a jeep and an armored automobile.
For the Kosovo Prime Minister, that is proof that the Serbian authorities in Belgrade had a hand in it: “We condemn this criminal terrorist attack. Our country is under attack, with political, financial and logistical support from the officials in Belgrade.”
Serbia’s president denies allegations
In the night, the individual addressed, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, spoke up – as anticipated, with a totally completely different account of the occasions. The attackers had been Serbs from Kosovo, regular residents, mentioned Vucic: “They had neither Serbian military nor Serbian police uniforms.” Uniforms may be purchased in shops anyplace. There are additionally no weapons that can not be obtained someplace.
A complete of 4 deaths and 6 arrests
Vucic mentioned the attackers had been offended in regards to the police violence they had been subjected to day by day in Kosovo: “It was only a matter of time before those who were being persecuted by the police would do something for themselves and their families.” At the identical time, Vucic condemns the killing of a police officer, which have to be punished. “That doesn’t help anyone. But Prime Minister Kurti is the main organizer of the chaos in Kosovo. His life’s dream is to drag us into the conflict with NATO.”
The NATO troopers from the KFOR peacekeeping pressure stationed in Kosovo held again. A KFOR press launch mentioned it was monitoring the scenario and offering assist if crucial, however that the Kosovo Police had been the primary occasion liable for bringing the scenario underneath management.
The taking pictures ended after hours on Sunday night. In addition to the police officer, three attackers had been killed. At least six folks had been arrested.
Kosovo: 25 KFOR Soldiers Injured
Source: www.nationalturk.com