British Minister for European Affairs Leo Docherty expressed strong condemnation for the assaults against the Kosovo Police in Banjska, Zvecan. On September 27, he called upon the authorities in Kosovo and Serbia to collaborate in ensuring that those responsible for the attacks are brought before the law.

Docherty, as part of his Western Balkans tour, held meetings in Belgrade where he engaged with Serbian officials, as reported by the Beta agency. During these meetings, he urged both Kosovo and Serbia to exhibit constructive conduct within the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, a vital process for regional stability and security.

Docherty emphasized the actual risks to regional stability stemming from the September 24 events. These risks are a result of the accumulation of weaponry and the failure to make progress in normalizing relations between Kosovo and Serbia, a process designed to ensure the safety of all communities.

He called upon Serbia to cooperate with Kosovo authorities and international partners to ensure that those responsible for the attack face judicial consequences. Docherty also appealed to Serbia to use its influence in northern Kosovo to de-escalate tensions and prevent further acts of violence.

Docherty’s statement underlined the United Kingdom’s encouragement for Kosovo and Serbia to act responsibly and in good faith to re-engage in the EU-facilitated dialogue.

The September 24 incident involved an armed and masked group attacking the Kosovo Police while they were attempting to remove barricades placed on a road in Banjska village, situated in the Zvecan municipality. Zvecan is one of the four northern municipalities with a Serbian majority population.

The confrontation led to the group seeking refuge in Banjska Monastery, resulting in a prolonged standoff with the police.

The attacks resulted in the tragic death of a Kosovo Police officer, and three suspected assailants lost their lives.

Kosovo held Serbia accountable for the attack, while official Belgrade pointed to Kosovo Serbs as the primary actors involved.

The United States and the European Union unequivocally condemned the attack and called for those responsible to face the consequences of their actions.