A tense standoff unfolded in northern Kosovo involving police and approximately 30 armed individuals following an earlier ambush that resulted in the death of one police officer and injuries to another.
Kosovo police reported the death of three unidentified attackers and the arrest of one person. The armed group is reportedly inside a monastery compound. Veton Eljsani, deputy commander of the Kosovo Police for the North region, described the situation, saying, “We see armed, uniformed people, heavy weapons, they are shooting at us, we are shooting.”
Kosovo police released a statement on Facebook indicating that the security situation in the Banjska village area remained highly volatile, with ongoing firearm attacks targeting police units.
This incident represents a significant escalation in an already unstable region. Kosovo, with a majority Albanian population, has pockets of Serbian-majority areas in the north, including Banjska.
The Serbian terrorist arrested by the Kosovo Police.
Life imprisonment for this terrorist and a pleasant stay in Kosovar prisons.#Kosovo#KosovoPolice👏👏 pic.twitter.com/5EnIuzHhK8— George Arianiti (@Comnenus10000) September 24, 2023
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, but Serbia does not recognise this sovereignty. Kosovo’s Serb community regards itself as part of Serbia, with Belgrade as their capital, rather than Pristina.
