Three members of the Kosovo Police were injured during an operation in northern Kosovo, announced Minister of Interior Xhelal Sveçla, while informing that one of the organizers of the attacks against KFOR members has been arrested in this operation.
“Today, the Kosovo Police arrested one of the leaders of the criminal formation ‘Civil Defense’ and the head of criminal gangs that have terrorized our citizens over the years, attacked Kosovo Police members and institutions of the Republic of Kosovo,” the Minister announced on Facebook.
According to Sveçla, the same person was also the main organizer of the attacks against KFOR forces and the Kosovo Police in Zvečan two weeks ago.
Minister of Justice Albulena Haxhiu stated that Kosovo should not tolerate criminal acts by criminal groups.
In a Facebook post, she said that “after significant engagement by the Kosovo Police, it is vital for the justice institutions to be at the forefront of their duty and take actions in line with their responsibilities.”
Sirens were heard in North Mitrovica on Tuesday afternoon, and it is reported that Serbian citizens have started to gather in the city.
Radio Free Europe journalists on ground reported that an explosion was also heard.
They also reported that people are gathering near the Technical High School in North Mitrovica, near the neighborhood of “Bosniak Mahalla”, where a larger number of Kosovo Police officers are present.
Journalists are not allowed to photograph or film these developments, as one of the RFE journalists had their phone taken by some local Serbs who deleted all the recorded material.
Public alarm sirens in North Mitrovica are usually activated when the local population is requested to organize for an event.
Whenever sirens sound in northern Kosovo, which has happened in several cases in recent years, organized groups of people take to the streets, close shops, pharmacies, businesses, and set up barricades.
Tensions between Kosovo and Serbia have escalated again in the past two weeks, as protests have been taking place in four northern municipalities by local Serbian groups opposing the appointment of new mayors in North Mitrovica, Zvečan, Zubin Potok, and Leposavić.
Tensions escalated on May 29th when masked Serbian groups in Zvečan attacked 30 KFOR soldiers, three of whom were armed.
