EU strongly condemns 'hideous attack' on Kosovo police

By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) — The EU on Sunday strongly condemned a "hideous attack" on police in northern Kosovo which claimed the life of an officer.

"I condemn in the strongest possible terms the hideous attack by an armed gang against Kosovo Police officers in Banjska/Banjskë in the north of Kosovo, which left one police officer dead and two injured," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement.

"All facts about the attack need to be established. The responsible perpetrators must face justice," he added.

A police officer was killed and another injured in northern Kosovo earlier on Sunday after a patrol unit clashed with a group of armed ethnic Serbs.

Borrell urged parties to de-escalate the situation in the region.

"More innocent lives are at risk in ongoing hostilities in the surroundings of Banjske Monastery. These attacks must stop immediately. The EU and its Member States repeatedly urge all actors to work to de-escalate the situation in the north of Kosovo," he said.

According to Borrell, the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo, is on the ground as a second security responder and in close contact with authorities and NATO's peacekeeping mission.

Kosovar police said a group of armed Serbs blocked a bridge leading to the village of Bajnske, located near the city of Mitrovica, with two trucks lacking license plates.

A shootout erupted after the group opened fire on police who went to the scene to investigate.

Two officers were shot in the encounter, during which the armed group also threw hand grenades, the statement said, adding that the injured officers were taken to the hospital.

Following the incident, a large number of security forces were dispatched to the region, and the Brnjak border crossing point between Kosovo and Serbia was closed.

Serbia and Kosovo face many disputes as Belgrade sees its neighbor as its territory and has blocked efforts for it to join international organizations and obtain recognition from other states.

The leaders of the two nations met in EU-facilitated talks in Brussels to normalize relations. But, the parties have so far struggled to implement the agreements reached.