By Anadolu Agency
A police officer was killed and another injured in northern Kosovo after a patrol unit clashed with a group of armed ethnic Serbs, the country’s prime minister said on Sunday.
“A Kosovo policeman has been killed today in the line of duty while another has been injured, in the northern municipality of Zvecan. The gunfire against the police is ongoing. This is the reason why we have been calling for Serbia to stop sponsoring terrorist attacks in the north,” Albin Kurti said on X.
Kurti claimed that organized criminal groups, with political, financial, and logistical support of Belgrade, were behind recent attacks in Kosovo.
“Serbia’s sponsorship of violence and terrorism is a gross infringement of both our national security and international law, principles, and values,” he said.
In a statement, Kosovar police said a group of armed Serbs blocked a bridge leading to a village called Bajnske, located near the city of Mitrovica, with two trucks lacking license plates.
A shootout erupted after the group opened fire on police who went to the scene to investigate after a notice.
Two officers were shot in the encounter, during which the armed group also threw hand grenades, the statement said, adding that the injured officers were taken to the hospital.
Following the incident, a large number of security forces were dispatched to the region, and the Brnjak border crossing point between Kosovo and Serbia was closed.
“The killing of a policeman and injuring another policeman in northern Kosovo, planned, orchestrated and executed by Serbian criminal gangs, is an attack on order and law in the north of the country, is an attack against Kosovo,” Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani said.
Osmani said she expected Kosovo’s allies to support it in its effort to establish law and order, and preserve its sovereignty.
“I invite all citizens, institutions, and political entities to stand united at this time when Serbia is openly challenging the territorial integrity, security, and sovereignty of our Republic,” Osmani said.
Serbia’s parliament chief, Vladimir Orlic, commented on the incident, saying Prime Minister Kurti “rushed first to accuse the Serbs, to say that it was some kind of organized action, I don’t know what, and that it was carried out by some professionals.
“He must have personally confirmed this in the meantime, so he knows who they are and what they are, so everything is clear.”
North Macedonia, Albania condemn attack
Strongly condemning the killing of a police officer in northern Kosovo, N.Macedonian Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani said: “My heart goes out to his family & colleagues. Full support for justice bringing perpetrators of a this heinous act to justice. Acts of violence won’t undermine Kosovo’s stability. Citizens’ safety first.”
Albania’s Foreign Minister Igli Hasani, meanwhile, said the criminal act was a threat to regional security and stability.
“The perpetrators must face justice as soon as possible. Albania is with Kosovo in these difficult moments that require caution, in close cooperation with allies and partners,” Hasani said.
Serbia and Kosovo face many disputes as Belgrade sees its neighbor as its territory and has blocked its efforts to join international organizations and obtain recognition by other states.
The leaders of the two nations met in EU-facilitated talks in Brussels to normalize relations. But, the parties have so far struggled to implement the agreements reached.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said that the incident was the most significant sign that of the risk that the protracted crisis escalating into an armed conflict.
Rama called for the Euro-Atlantic community to “gather all its imposing force and irreversibly seat Kosovo and Serbia at the table of the Normalization Dialogue.”
The US Ambassador to Kosovo Jeffrey Hovenier also weighed in on the clashes, saying police had “full and legitimate responsibility for enforcing the rule of law.”
“The perpetrators must and will be held accountable and brought to justice. We are monitoring the situation closely and condemn these violent acts against the legitimate authorities of the Republic of Kosovo. They should immediately cease their attacks,” he said.