Molotov cocktail attack in the north that Svechla visited

Password “Sharr” in northern Mitrovica was attacked by Molotov cocktail on the morning of July 14th.

The news was confirmed for Radio Free Europe by the deputy director of the Kosovo Police for the northern region, Veton Elshani.

“About 3:30 hours ago, there was an attempt to fire in northern Mitrovica”, Elshani said.

According to him, material damage is small.

We have no suspects at the moment”, Elshani stressed.

Days earlier, Kosovo Minister of Internal Affairs Jedal Svecla, together with former South Mitrovica Mayor Agim Bahtiri, had stayed in the barracks that became the target of the Molotov cocktail attack on July 14th. The bar owners are members of the Gorani community.

Asked whether the attack on this establishment was carried out in retaliation for Svechla's visit, Elshani said that “is not excluded” the possibility that this is the motive for the attack.

Tensions in northern Kosovo, inhabited by Serb majority, have been high since last year, when, amid opposition from the local Serb population, Albanian leaders took the lead in northern Mitrovica, Leposaviqi, Zvecan and Zubin Potok.