The Kosovo Police said that in the early hours of 3 July, an explosion occurred in North Mitrovica, a predominantly Serbian-inhabited municipality.

According to the Police, the means that exploded is suspected to have been a shock bomb.

The incident took place at 00:52 in the “Tre Rrokaqiejt” (“Three skyscrapers”) neighborhood. Police officials, according to the statement, “have not encountered any collateral damage” from this explosion.

The Serb List has condemned the explosion in North Mitrovica, stating that representatives of this party are convinced that it “was done intentionally to justify the increased presence of special police units [of Kosovo]”.

The Serb List – the largest party of Serbs in Kosovo – has reiterated its request for the NATO mission in Kosovo, KFOR, and the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo, EULEX, to increase their presence in the north, especially in North Mitrovica.

Shock bombs are not considered destructive devices. However, they produce a loud noise that disorients the senses.

Recently, there have been several attacks with shock bombs and hand grenades in the municipalities in northern Kosovo.

The latest shock bomb attack occurred in Zvečan on 18 June. Similarly, there have been shock bomb attacks near the stations in Zvečan and North Mitrovica.

On 26 June, the municipal building in North Mitrovica was attacked with a hand grenade, causing material damage.

These incidents come at a time when tensions in northern Kosovo have escalated since 26 May. On that day, newly elected Albanian mayors of municipalities in the north, predominantly inhabited by Serbs, entered the municipal buildings in Zvečan, Leposavić, and Zubin Potok.

The Serbian population, which boycotted the elections on 23 April, has opposed the actions of the mayors and has continuously held protests in front of the buildings.

The international community has called on Kosovo and Serbia to reduce tensions and organize new elections in the four municipalities in the north.