Kosovo's acting Minister of Interior, Xhelal Sveçla, has claimed that "Serbia, through criminal and terrorist gangs, still continues to plan and carry out terrorist attacks in the Republic of Kosovo."
His reaction comes a day after Kosovo Police, in cooperation with troops from the NATO mission in Kosovo, KFOR, found 10 cable-connected detonators near the village of Gnjezhdan in Leposavic.
According to the minister, the presence and continued engagement of the Kosovo Police and security institutions has enabled the identification and seizure of assets that, as he put it, could be used for “dangerous terrorist attacks.” He stressed that Kosovo institutions remain determined to confront “criminal and terrorist groups” operating in the north of the country.
In the past, members of the incumbent government have accused Serbia of involvement in similar cases where weapons were found in the Serb-majority north, but without providing evidence to substantiate these accusations.
Through the 24-hour report, the Kosovo Police announced that it has launched investigations into the detonators found in Leposaviq and that the state prosecutor has also been informed about this case.
Northern Kosovo remains tense, especially since September 24, 2023, when a group of armed Serbs attacked the Kosovo Police in Banjska, killing a sergeant. In the ensuing fighting, three members of the attacking group were killed. Since then, Kosovo authorities have confiscated weapons and ammunition in the north on various occasions.
Milan Radoicic, former vice-chairman of the Serbian List, the largest Serb party in Kosovo, which enjoys the support of official Belgrade, claimed responsibility for the attack in Banjska. Kosovo blames Serbia for the attack, while the latter denies involvement.
In September last year, the Kosovo Special Prosecution Office indicted 45 people – among them Milan Radoićić – for the armed attack in Banjska. Authorities in Serbia refuse to extradite Radoićić to Kosovo and state that he will be tried by “Serbian courts”, while officials in Kosovo say he has been offered protection by the Serbian state. /RE
