The Kosovo Police (KP) arrested two people tonight in a hotel in the village of Banjska, where they also found weapons, it was confirmed for the KoSSev portal from the KP.
Hotel workers were arrested, the deputy commander of the Kosovo Police for the North region, Veton Eljšani, told the media.
An investigation is underway.
He claims that there is a suspicion, that is, that the weapon that was found is linked to a group of masked and armed persons who clashed with the Kosovo Police on Sunday.
Early on Sunday morning in the village of Banjska in the municipality of Zvečan, a sergeant of the Kosovo Police was killed in an ambush, and two police officers were wounded.
The main news in the meantime moved to the conflicts that lasted around the Banjska monastery itself until the evening hours.
According to the Kosovo Police, at least three attackers were killed yesterday, and two more were arrested. At the same time, four other people were arrested who are linked to this group.
In the village of Banjska, a police operation has been carried out since yesterday morning, as a result of which it is forbidden to enter and leave the village, except, as the police claim, in special cases.
The situation is calm tonight, and according to the police, a detailed inspection and investigation is being carried out in the entire village.
(KoSSev)
The Office for Kosovo and Metohija of the Government of Serbia sent its deepest condolences tonight to the families of the Serbs who died in yesterday's tragic events in the village of Banjska in the municipality of Zvečan, as well as to the family of the killed Albanian policeman.
In the press release of the director of the office, Petar Petković, it was stated that in the past year, constant warnings have been sent from Belgrade to the international community that the daily violence and provocations of Aljbin Kurti towards the Serbian people in the north of Kosovo and Metohija can lead to tragedy and unforeseeable consequences, and this happened yesterday. unfortunately it happened.
"Aljbin Kurti persistently destroyed every possibility of dialogue and normalization of relations, until blood was spilled in the north of Kosovo and Metohija. The north of Kosovo and Metohija was an area of peaceful coexistence, until Kurti's special forces started operating there, and Kurti implemented his plan of ethnic cleansing of Serbs." Petkovic stated.
He supported the request of the Serbian List that international missions conduct an impartial investigation into the actions of Kosovo special forces during the events in Zvečan.
"Serbs in the north of Kosovo and Metohija are going through an unprecedented terror, about which you will not hear a word of condemnation from international representatives. Since last night, Rosa special forces have been entering Serbian houses and beating civilians, slapping them and insulting them. During the day in the north, the driver and a Serbian medical technician to the Rosu base in Brnjak. Parts of the 'Rajska banja' complex were smashed today, and three employees were arbitrarily arrested. Also, the Kosovo police demolished the premises of the Post Office in Banjska," said Petković.
He assessed that yesterday's event was used by Pristina as an occasion for the most naked terror in the north of Kosovo and Metohija, where Kurti's special forces harassed Serbian civilians throughout the day.
"Serbia appeals to the actors in the international community to urgently take concrete steps so that Kurti's war and occupation policies are curbed, and the region is spared another setback to the hard-won peace," Petković pointed out in the announcement.
(BETA)
The Eparchy of Raško-Prizren today denied the news that a large amount of weapons were found in the Banjska monastery, the Serbian Orthodox Church announced.
The President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, spoke with the special envoy of Germany for the Western Balkans, Manuel Saracin, about the attack on the Kosovo police in the north on September 24, reports Radio Free Europe.
Osmani said that "terrorist actions and acts of aggression" are orchestrated and supported by Belgrade.
"Such actions represent a violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Kosovo and Serbia should be sanctioned for these actions," said Osmani, according to the press release.
The President of Kosovo also said that the action of the police in the north is legitimate and that it is within the framework of "fulfilling their constitutional duties and protecting all citizens, without distinction."
On Monday, September 25, Saracin also met with the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, a day after the events in the north.
Kurti informed him about the actions that Kosovo is taking after the events of Sunday, September 24.
"Saracin expressed his condolences to the family of the deceased and the people of Kosovo, condemned yesterday's attack, calling it a criminal and terrorist attack on the Kosovo police, and gave Germany's support to Kosovo," stated the statement of Kurti's office.
The situation in the village of Banjska, around the monastery, is currently stable, but fragile, EULEX for Kosovo announced online.
As stated in the response of Eulex Kosovo Online, during the day, EULEX staff members - in accordance with the Mission's mandate - were in the area of the Banjska Monastery, monitoring security events in close cooperation with the Kosovo Police and KFOR.
"Euleks has currently left the area. The security situation is currently stable, but fragile," the response added.
They remind that at the request of the Kosovo Police and in accordance with their mandate, members of the Eulex Police provided support to the Kosovo Police, who escorted the pilgrims from the Banjska monastery, where they spent yesterday, to the border (in Serbia they say administrative) crossing of Jarinje.
The largest Serbian party in Kosovo, Srpska lista, expressed its condolences to the families of the killed Serbs and the Kosovo police during the armed attack on the Kosovo police in the village of Banjska near Zvečan, on September 24.
"We are looking for an investigation into the murder of at least two Serbs, who were killed in cold blood even though they surrendered. We ask the international community why EULEX did not participate in the operation, but only the police of (Kosovo Prime Minister Aljbin) Kurti?", announced Srpska lista without citing evidence in support of this. claims.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said he spoke with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and asked them to encourage dialogue between the two sides.
Tajani announced this after yesterday's conflict in the village of Banjska in the north of Kosovo, in which one Kosovo policeman and at least three Serbs were killed.
"Italy is a factor of peace in the Balkans. I spoke with President Vučić and with Prime Minister Kurti. I asked both of them to encourage dialogue between the parties," Tajani wrote on the "X" network.
He stated that he agreed with the Italian Minister of Defense, Guido Croceto, that work is being done to strengthen the KFOR presence on the "border between Serbia and Kosovo and to prevent further conflicts."
President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani today awarded the "Hero of Kosovo" order to police sergeant Afrim Bunjaku, who was killed on Sunday in an attack on the Kosovo police in the village of Banjska.
"Sergeant Afrim Bunjaku was our guard until yesterday, and from today he is our hero," said Osmani at the commemoration of Bunjaku's death.
She added that Afrim and the Kosovo police did what they had to do on Sunday against, as she said, criminal groups financed by Serbia.
"Afrim and the Kosovo police were challenged yesterday by terrorist gangs financed by Belgrade and they did what they had to do, they restored law, protection, territorial integrity and our sovereignty and strengthened dignity," said Osmani.
According to her, Bunjaku was a pillar of the Kosovo Police.
"He remained steadfast in defending the law and against terrorist groups supported by Serbs, whose goal was to destabilize not only Kosovo but the entire region," said Osmani.
Today, Bunjaku was buried with the highest honors in Gnjilan.
(BETA)
The security authorities in Kosovo have accused the vice president of the Serbian List, Milan Radoičić, of organizing and participating in the attack on the Kosovo police on September 24.
At a press conference on September 25, Kosovo Interior Minister Dzelal Svečlja said that the authorities had found maps and plans for an attack on Kosovo police in the north on September 24. He said that the attack was not ad hoc but planned for months.
He stated that based on the documents that were found, Radoičić was connected to the attack.
"In those materials, we also found the documents of the criminal who is also on the black list of the USA, Milan Radoičić, documents that prove his connection or direct participation in this action. This is the list of weapons, that is, the permission given by the institutions of Serbia to Milan Radoičić, where and the list of weapons he owns, with numbers, with everything found in the first car, and definitely the original document is in the hands of forensic experts," Svečlja said.
At the press conference, the police displayed the weapons and equipment they found at the scene.
According to him, based on the weapons they found, it is believed that there was a plan to involve "hundreds of people to destabilize our country" in the attack.
Svečlja said that, according to the information so far, "six terrorists are being treated in the hospital in Novi Pazar" and called on Serbia to hand them over to Kosovo. He said that apart from them, other members of the group who may have fled to Serbia should be handed over to Kosovo in order to face justice.
He said that, according to information, some of the members of the group that attacked the police were members of the "North Brigade" and "Civil Defense", which Kosovo declared as terrorist organizations at the beginning of the year.
In the meantime, the Director General of the Kosovo Police, Gazmend Hodža, said that in a Mercedes car with Belgrade license plates, a gun license in the name of Radoičić was found.
"The document was issued by the Serbian authorities, raising strong suspicions that Milan Radoičić himself is among the armed and uniformed persons," said Hodža.
"It is suspected that this terrorist group was organized by Milan Radoičić, a person close to the President (Serbia) Aleksandar Vučić. It is suspected that the terrorist group was actively supported by the Government in the acquisition of weapons and logistical means, including entering Kosovo with over 26 motor vehicles of Serbia," he emphasized.
Hoxha said that an operation is underway to find the persons involved in the attack on the police - suspected to be around 30 of them - without excluding the possibility that they are still in the territory of Kosovo.
Radoičić is the vice-president of the Serbian List, who is wanted by the Kosovo authorities, and is also on the American blacklist for "involvement in international organized crime".
Kosovo is looking for him on suspicion of being involved in the intimidation of witnesses in the court process, known as "Brezovica".
Radoičić is also mentioned in the indictment as the "leader of a criminal group" that planned the murder of Serbian politician Oliver Ivanovic. However, the warrant for Milan Radoičić was withdrawn in March 2021 without any explanation.
Hoxha said that in and around the monastery in Banjska, weapons of various calibers, rocket launchers, explosives, detonators, various emblems, drones, self-adhesive notes with the KFOR symbol, uniforms - some of which with emblems of the Italian army, car plates with acronyms of various cities of Serbia, hand grenade launchers (zolja), most of which were produced in 2021.
Hoxha said that some of these weapons were also used in attacks in the past, as he said, by the "Civil Defense".
The director of the Kosovo Police said that based on the documents found, five belong to members suspected of belonging to the Civil Protection.
Security authorities said the group was professional and well prepared. In addition to the weapons, police officials said they seized 24 vehicles, one armored vehicle and two four-wheelers.
(Radio Free Europe)
Sunday's conflict in the north of Kosovo was one of the worst since Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008, the AP agency estimates today, adding that there is fear in the West of a revival of the war in Kosovo.
The tragic event in the north of Kosovo is a continuation of the disastrous Balkan policy from which the region unfortunately cannot get out, said Montenegrin Prime Minister Dritan Abazović.
The United States of America (USA) strongly condemns the coordinated violent attacks on the Kosovo police near the Banjska monastery on September 24 and expresses its deepest condolences to the family of the Kosovo police sergeant who was killed in the line of duty, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said today, Voice of America reports.
"The perpetrators of this crime must be held accountable in a transparent investigative process. We call on the governments of Kosovo and Serbia to refrain from any action or rhetoric that could further fuel tensions and to immediately work in coordination with international partners to de-escalate the situation, ensure security and the rule of law and a return to dialogue under the auspices of the EU," said Blinken's statement released by the State Department.
The US Secretary of State further states that the Kosovo police have "full responsibility for enforcing the rule of law in the Republic of Kosovo. The United States recognizes and respects the role of the Kosovo police as the first responder in emergency and crisis situations."
"The United States appreciates the close coordination of the Kosovo police with the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) and with NATO forces in Kosovo, especially in ensuring the safety of civilians on the ground," said Blinken, saying that the US will continue to monitor the situation and coordinate with everyone involved.
A group of about 30 "heavily armed" men attacked Kosovo police in northern Kosovo on Sunday, killing one member and injuring two others, before storming a nearby Orthodox monastery. In the action of the police, three attackers, who were masked and in uniform, were killed, and six people were arrested.
It was not possible to enter or leave the village of Banjska in the municipality of Zvečan on Monday morning, reports Kosovo Online, stating that all approaches are blocked by numerous police forces, and it is not yet known when they will be unblocked.
The Jarinje and Brnjak crossings are still closed, a day after the armed conflict in the village of Banjska near Zvečana, in the north of Kosovo.
The KoSSev portal reported today that "it is not possible from central Serbia via Jarinje and Brnjak", and that all approaches to the village of Banjska are still blocked today.
That portal writes that, according to the information so far, four people were killed - one member of the Kosovo police and at least three "attackers" and that the village of Banjska is currently calm.
The police are deployed in large numbers in the vicinity of the village, and their members inform the locals that due to the ongoing police operation - they have an order not to leave the village.
They also told them that they don't know how long everything will last, writes KoSSev.
It is peaceful in the Banjska monastery, and the police are still there, as is a group of pilgrims from Novi Sad.
(BETA)
The US Embassy and the EU Office in Kosovo lowered their flags to half-mast in honor of the policeman Afrim Bunjaku, who was killed yesterday in the early hours of the morning.
"As a sign of mourning and respect, on the day of the funeral of Kosovo police sergeant Afrim Bunjaku, who was killed yesterday in a terrible and cowardly terrorist attack, the flag of the European Union was lowered to half-mast. Our hearts are with his family, his loved ones and the people of Kosovo." it is stated in the press release of the EU office in Pristina.
The Embassy of the United States of America in Kosovo announced that by lowering the flag to half-mast, they join the Kosovo institutions in mourning the loss of this police official.
"We join the institutions of Kosovo in mourning the loss of the sergeant of the Kosovo police. Today, our flag at the American embassy is lowered to half-mast in his honor," the statement said.
(BETA)
Kosovo's Minister of Internal Affairs Dzelal Svečlja said that the authorities found maps and plans for an attack on the Kosovo police in the north on September 24, reports Radio Free Europe.
He said at a press conference on September 25 that the attack was not ad hoc, but had been planned for months.
According to him, based on the documents, Milan Radoičić, the vice-president of the Serbian List - the leading party of the Serbs in Kosovo, which has the support of Belgrade, is connected to the attack.
"In those materials, we also found the documents of the criminal who is also on the black list of the USA, Milan Radoičić, documents that prove his connection or direct participation in this action. This is the list of weapons, that is, the permission given by the institutions of Serbia to Milan Radoičić, where and the list of weapons he owns, with numbers, with everything found in the first car, and definitely the original document is in the hands of forensic experts," Svečlja said.
At the press conference, the police displayed the weapons and equipment they found at the scene.
According to him, based on the weapons they found, it is believed that there was a plan to involve "hundreds of people to destabilize our country" in the attack.
Svečlja said that, according to the information so far, "six terrorists are being treated in the hospital in Novi Pazar" and called on Serbia to hand them over to Kosovo.
He said that apart from them, other members of the group who may have fled to Serbia should be handed over to Kosovo in order to face justice.
He said that, according to information, some of the members of the group that attacked the police were members of the "North Brigade" and "Civil Defense", which Kosovo declared as terrorist organizations at the beginning of the year.
The body of another suspect in the attack was found in the north of Kosovo
The Prosecutor's Office of Kosovo confirmed that the body of another person suspected of having participated in the attacks on the Kosovo police on September 24 was found in the north of Kosovo.
With this body, four attackers have been killed so far, reports Radio Free Europe.
The lifeless body of the attacker was found about 1,5 kilometers from the "place of the incident", a day after a group of dozens of armed men attacked the Kosovo police.
Prosecutor Naim Abazi confirmed this news for Radio Free Europe.
Abazi said another armed vehicle was found at the scene.
"We are trying to identify him because he did not have any identification documents with him at this time," Abazi said.
Kosovo authorities announced on Sunday that three attackers were killed in a police operation, while six people were arrested - two attackers and four who provided support.
The coalition "For the future of Montenegro" said that the "terror" of Kosovo Prime Minister Aljbin Kurti must be stopped if peace is desired in Kosovo.
The Democratic Party condemned the attack, as they said, by a terrorist group in the north of Kosovo and welcomed the "clear reaction" of the Government regarding that act.
U.S. Secretary of State Enotni Blinken said that the U.S. "strongly" condemns the attacks on the Kosovo police.
"The US calls on the authorities of Kosovo and Serbia not to inflame tensions and to work on de-escalating the situation," said Blinken, Reuters reports.
Rode: All condemned, only the Serbian List is silent
I wonder if the Serbian List will stop being silent and join all of us in our clear stand against this murderous attack on the Kosovo police, said today the German ambassador to Kosovo, Jorn Rode.
He emphasizes that the whole world, including the Serbian Orthodox Church, condemned yesterday's events.
"As the whole world, including the SPC, is shocked and condemns yesterday's events - I wonder if the Serbian List will also stop being silent and join us in our clear stand against this murderous attack on the Kosovo police," said this diplomat online. X.
The leading party in Serbian communities in Kosovo - Srpska lista, has not advertised at all until now.
Stano: A very dangerous situation has occurred, de-escalation must occur
The spokesperson of the European Union, Peter Stano, repeated that the European Union clearly condemned yesterday's events in the village of Banjska in the north of Kosovo, that a very dangerous situation has arisen and that there must be a de-escalation.
He emphasized at the press conference that a way out of the constant crises in Kosovo must be found through dialogue and that there must be de-escalation.
"We appeal to both sides to de-escalate," Stano said, as reported by RTS.
He reiterated that all EU positions on the situation in Kosovo are contained in the statement from last week, which states very clearly what the EU expects from both sides.
"The EU is very clear – we are a mediator. Both sides want to join the EU, and their path is through dialogue. All of this is very clearly stated in the statement of the EU members, how they must behave in order to enter the EU," he said. Flat.
When asked by Albanian journalists if there is a possibility to introduce measures, Stano said that the investigation is still ongoing and that all the facts are still being examined.
"The measures introduced to Kosovo are not sanctions, we said from the start that the EU was clear that the measures are temporary. If the EU finds a reason, it will introduce them to Serbia as well," said Stano.
Asked if High Commissioner for Security and Foreign Policy Jozep Borelj is planning another high-level meeting with Belgrade and Pristina, Stano said that it is part of the dialogue and that he will invite the parties when the conditions are right.
Bonus video:
