The water channel attack in Zubin Potok, authorities are investigating the circumstances all known so far

The Iber-Lepentz Water Channel was damaged after an explosion that occurred last night in Zubin Potok. The Kosovo government has described this as a terrorist act, and internationals have strongly condemned this attack. 

A powerful explosion occurred last night in the village of Zubin Potok, which has damaged the Iber-Lepenc water channel, which is supplied with water from Lake Weyman to several cities in the country, as well as the Kosovo Energy Corporation for cooling its thermoelectrics.

The blast was first confirmed by Deputy Police Director for the Northern region Veton Elshani.

“Yes, an explosion in the water channel has been heard, and police teams are working as soon as they light the case”, Elshani said, without giving any more details.

Interior Affairs Minister Jalal Svecla and Police Director Gazmend Hoxha appeared on the scene later.

Svechla described the case as a terrorist act, calling it an attack on a critical infrastructure.

After the announcement, the police have come to the scene. Since the case has been seen as a result of a terrorist act, part of the Iber-Lepenci Canal has been named as critical infrastructure has been damaged”, Svechla said.

According to him, the blast is made of explosives that he said came from Serbia's stocks.

We're not talking about small guns. We're talking explosives, which is not easy to find on the black market. This certainly comes from reserves from Serbia's” explosives stock, Svechla has said.

Prime Minister Albin Kurti addressed citizens through a news conference in the late hours.

For this attack, he pointed his finger at Serbia.

“Stonte had to gather at this late hour here in the prime minister, inform the public opinion of the recent serious, criminal, terrorist and malicious attacks that are continuing to come, we believe in our northern neighbour, aggressive and hostile”, Kurti said.

He cited recent hand grenades attacks at the Zvecan police station and the launch of explosive vehicles near the Zvecan municipality.

Kurti said that part of Iber Lepenc's canal has been damaged by this explosion and that the supply of water has been temporarily cut off.

This is a criminal and terrorist attack that has been intended to damage our critical infrastructure, perhaps even the most important one we have, and it was undoubtedly an attempt to jeopardise the power and water supply in our country”, Kurti added.

He urged citizens to be calm and consistently follow instructions and reports from Kosovo Republic institutions

“For our strong conviction there can be no other address for responsibility and guilt, for organising and orchestrating this attack other than official Belgrade and their criminal structures, which, at the top, Milan Radojciqicin, are supported by Serbian institutions, and by Serbia's President Aleksandar Vuciq. He was detained to be released and is now free in Serbia and conducted with the paramilitary and criminal elements there, criminals of peace and war criminals who hate our Republic and our people throughout”, Kurti said.

He thanked international partners, the United States and the European Union for their support of the country, as he warned of meetings with KFOR Commander and extraordinary meeting of the Republic of Kosovo Security Council.

Let's be together with state institutions, with our police, with our official bodies that will tell us in real time about everything. These criminals and terrorists will never defeat us, because the power of the right law in the democratic Republic of Kosovo will prevail again”, Kurti said.

For the explosion, Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani reacted.

She said that international security partners have immediately offered their assistance even to the damage caused and to water supply and also “for investigating this act against the state of our citizens”.

I invite citizens to continue to show calm and caution until our institutions are dealing with the investigation of the case and the amount of damage to higher professionalism. In addition to our institutions, our international security partners have immediately offered their help with the sanctions of damage caused and water supply and also for investigating this act against the state of our citizens”, Osmani wrote.

EU Ambassador to Kosovo Aivo Ora condemned the explosion, while adding that he has offered assistance to Kosovo authorities.

I want the serious incident that caused damage to the water channel in Zubin Potok that is robbing significant parts of Kosovo of its water supply. I have offered EU assistance to Kosovo authorities. The event should be investigated and the responsible ones brought to justice”, Orar wrote on X.

The US Ambassador Jeffrey Hovenier, who sentenced him, also came out in response, said the United States is monitoring the situation closely and has offered their support to ensure that those responsible for this criminal assault are identified and held accountable.

The US has also condemned recent grenade attacks at the Zvecan police station on November 26th and at the Zvecan municipality building on November 28th.

These violent acts have no place in a democratic society, and those responsible for these criminal attacks against the legitimate authorities of the Republic of Kosovo must be held accountable. The United States will continue to remain in solidarity with the people and the Government of Kosovo in the face of these” criminal attacks, Hovenier wrote.

Great Britain has also condemned this attack. British Ambassador Hargreaves through a Facebook text said this attack should be investigated soon as to whether it is intended, as it has serious consequences for water and energy supplies.

The serious incident in Zubin Potok tonight has potentially serious consequences for supplying energy and water to different communities in many parts of Kosovo. It must be investigated quickly for any deliberate assault on critical infrastructure”, the British ambassador said.

The founding prosecutor in Mitrovica has indicated that they are investigating all the circumstances of the explosion.

For Gazeta Express, Valon Preteni has said the guardian prosecutor has immediately appeared at the scene, and in co-operation with other justice actors are dealing with the case in question.

The guardian prosecutor has come to the scene, is co-operating with the Kosovo Police, Antiterrorism Unit, and with the Kosovo Special Prosecutor. All the circumstances of what happened in question are being investigated”, Preten said.

Meanwhile, Economy Minister Artane Rizvanolli has announced today that the country's regular electricity supply and central heating for Pristina citizens has been provided.

Rizvanolli said six temporary tubes with sufficient capacity to provide water for cooling the thermo-power plant “Kosova B and that they expect the power supply not to be affected.

“at the same time, we have been co-ordinated with Albania's Energy Corporation to provide additional energy to avoid eventual reductions”, Rizvanolli wrote.

She named it a terrorist act, who said she's been helping with the water supply.

According to her, in Pristina water supply will be compensated by Badovci and Batlava, supply in Fushe Kosovo, Drenas and the Mitrovica region will be secured through the Autobots, starting this morning.

The citizens are encouraged to follow reports of the Regional Water Company for accurate information. Thanks to Iber Lepenci, the Kosovo Police and KEK for the rapid reaction, as well as the AME and the CRUs, who have made all Autobots and the necessary human capacities available for an emergency solution”, Rizvanolli wrote.