Kosovo Police smuggling raid in the north met with protest by Serbs

English

Gazeta Express

13/10/2021 14:14

The Kosovo Police during an operation against the smuggling of goods in northern part of the country led to clashes with organised group of Serbs who resisted the police operation by throwing stones, torching cars, and blocking roads. Firearms shots were also heard.  

The Kosovo Police launched early Wednesday an operation in several cities, including northern part of the country inhabited mainly by Serbs. But the presence of police special units in the north was met with protests of organised groups of Serbs who gathered and set roadblocks, threw stones, and physically clashed with the police wounding several officers.

The Police announced that six of its officers have sustained injuries, of them five Albanians and one officer of Serbian nationality. Also, one of the persons involved in the attack against police officers has been wounded. Also, a group of journalists and cameramen covering the police operation came under attack of local Serbs. A T7 journalist covering the event, Clirimtar Morina, reported that protestors threw three hand grenades towards them.

The Kosovo Police in a detailed statement said that local citizens have gathered, and blocked the roads with heavy vehicles, used teargas, shock bombs, hand grenades and gunshots. The operation was concluded with the arrest of eight people – six Albanians, one Serb and one man of Bosniak nationality. The police said that because of intensive investigations and in cooperation with the Kosovo Customs, they have sequestered goods suspected of being smuggled from Serbia to Kosovo. /GazetaExpress/