Following attacks in the north, call against crisis loss

The Kosovo government, opposition leaders, as well as security experts in Kosovo have estimated that these attacks should be seriously addressed as an attempt to destabilise the entire Balkan region.

Also, mission NATO in Kosovo (KFOR), the U.S. Embassy in Kosovo and the EU Office have condemned the attacks, calling on no actions to defuse tensions in that area.

Kosovo's Minister of Internal Affairs, Xhelal Svecla, has indicated that on Friday, April 15th, Kosovo Police have been attacked in the country's north as they set off to take office at border points with Serbia. Not reported for the wounded.

This attack, already confirmed, with hand grenade and AK-47, as a terrorist act, has been done in order to intimidate police officials, but also all Kosovo citizens”, he has said.

Minister Svechla has also said that various <x0 Groups in the last three days have carried out four attacks in that area”. He called these terrorist attacks.

“It is now seen that the serious commitment of Kosovo institutions, but specifically the Kosovo Police, to establish order and law in every corner of Kosovo, has become an obstacle to Serbia, for specific groups which are directly supported by Serbia, and really undermines the plans of all those who Kosovo has potentially seen as the nest of their crime and as the continuation of other” crises, Svecla has said.

Kosovo police in February of this year had reportedly started to close several routes used for smuggling. Even in October of last year, Kosovo police had conducted a wide deal against smuggling in the Pristina, Peja, South Mitrovica and North Mitrovica region.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, citing sources that have identified Thursday's attack as Serbia's “coming”, has called on Serbia that “is distanced from violent terrorist attacks on police.

Meanwhile, Blerim Vela, adviser to Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, has said that these actions towards the Kosovo Police are aimed at destabilising the security and political situation in the country.

Opposition party leader Ramush Haradinaj, the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, has said that “these criminal acts are alarm for all”, while the other opposition party, the Democratic Party of Kosovo, has declared that this act aimed at violating order and law.

“attack aimed at destabilising”

While rule bodies in Kosovo have yet to elaborate whether there are any suspects concerning the attacks in the north, Minister Svechla has mentioned specific “groups supported by Serbia”.

I think Serbia's purpose at this moment is not to attack Kosovo, but to destabilise Kosovo”, Svecla said.

On the other hand, the attacks that were made public Friday have called Edita Tahiri alarming, former chief negotiator in Kosovo-Serbia dialogue. She has said she does not believe the attacks relate to the fact that within days it is the deadline for reaching a final agreement regarding the license plates of Serbian and Kosovo cars that enter and exit these two states.

Friday's “Sulmets in the country's north towards the Kosovo Police are extremely dangerous and disturbing developments. I think it comes from circles aimed at destabilising Kosovo and the entire Balkans”, it has stressed.

According to Tahiri, the fact that the attacks took place under the <x0 war regime in Ukraine” should be alarming for the country's institutions.

The war in Ukraine has begun after Russia's attack on its neighbour on February 24th. Since then, many Western countries have imposed severe sanctions on Russia. That, however, has not been Serbia.

The attacks on the Kosovo Police have called them synchronized, Kosovo Security Science Professor Avni Islami.

He has also said that the attacks are aimed at destabilising Kosovo and the region, while calling for the country's “institutions to fall prey to provocations”.

“It is well known that such attacks come from the Serbian state, and I very much believe Russia, which wants to distract attention from Ukraine and create new crisis sites”, has praised him.

According to Islam, the fact that some of the attacks were carried out with AK-47 grenades and weapons means that the incident cannot be seen as something isolated and trivial.

International Community: Avoid speculation that trigger tensions in the north

The ambassador of the United States of America to Kosovo, Jeffrey Havenier, has expressed concern over the attack on Kosovo Police members, which took place “while sovereign authorities, responsible for maintaining peace and security, were carrying out their official duties”.

“We strongly condemn this shameful, unwarranted violence”, has written Ambassador Havenier on Twitter.

He has warned that “s do not become speculations that would increase tensions and condemn any attempts to prevent this crucial work”.

Even the European Union's Office in Kosovo has strongly condemned what it has named “violent attacks on a Kosovo Police patrol in the Zubin Potok municipality”, calling on all sides to avoid unnecessary speculation, which could fuel even more tension.

Mission NATO in Kosovo, as well as condemning the attack, has confirmed its readiness to support the Kosovo Police if necessary and if required.

Attacks on Kosovo institutions in the north over years

Four municipalities in northern Kosovo -- Northern Mitrovica, Leposaviqi, Zubin Potoku and Zvecani -- are inhabited by Serb majority.

This region has been a source of ethnic tensions and destabilisation over the years.

The following are just some of the attacks on Kosovo institutions or officials on Kosovo authorities in northern municipalities.

On February 17, 2008, Kosovo declared independence.

Two days later (on February 19th), local Serbs in the north set fire to objects located at two border points with Serbia, in Jarinje and Brnjak.

Police control was burned at Jarinje, while in Brnjak it was destroyed with explosives, endangering Kosovo police and customs officers.

After declaring independence, Kosovo waited three years to take action in an effort to control the north.

In July 2011, former Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci authorised the elite units of the Kosovo Police to take control of the border points.

Rejecting this Kosovo Police action, Serb protesters blocked the road.

Police Enver Zymber, from Dubovci in Vushtrri, had been shot to death in one of the armed attacks.

Two Kosovo Police members had suffered injuries on March 13th 2014, while trying to stop the crowd of about 150 people who attacked a police station in the north, and released a Serb citizen from custody.

On December 28, 2016, some early offices for integrated workers in the north were inaugurated, and on the evening of the same day, explosive devices that damaged the offices were thrown into the facility.

Kosovo police in February of this year had reportedly started to close several routes used for smuggling. Svecla had then said that closing these roads is an attempt to prevent and fight crime and all forms of smuggling in border areas linking Kosovo with Serbia and Northern Macedonia.

Even in October of last year, Kosovo police had conducted a wide deal against smuggling in the Pristina, Peja, South Mitrovica and North Mitrovica region. Kosovo police have said that goods were seized in that action “smuggled into value from hundreds of thousands of euros”.