Standoff continues-Two more armed attackers in northern Kosovo killed

Details

Category: Defence&Security

Published on Sunday, 24 September 2023 15:44

September 24, 2023

Two more persons who clashed with Kosovo police at Banjska village were killed and one of the uniformed heavily armed attackers was arrested, Kosovo police said.

The ongoing standoff in northern Kosovo began in the night between Saturday and Sunday, when “heavily armed attackers” with what seem to be military uniforms killed a police officer and injured another one.

According to Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, at least 30 „heavily armed professionals“ were involved in an attack which he was „financed and orchestrated“ by Serbia. However, he admitted that it is still unclear who the attackers are.

At the press conference, he showed footage of persons armed with heavy weapons in six vehicles without licence plates and one armoured vehicle, wearing camouflage uniforms, around and inside the Banjska monastery.

Meanwhile, KFOR said it is closely monitoring the situation in Banjska, and that troops are present in the area and ready to react if necessary, while numerous international officials reacted on social media.

According to RTK, the ambassadors of the USA, Great Britain, France and Italy arrived at the government building to meet with Kurti over the incident.

Earlier, Kosovo police confirmed that one of the attackers was killed.

„The situation in the north of Kosovo, more precisely in the area of the village of Banjska, is still tense, criminal groups from time to time attack police units in the field,” police said.

Source:  https://n1info.rs/english/news/standoff-continues-two-more-armed-attackers-in-northern-kosovo-killed/

Kosovo Police-One of the attackers was killed

Details

Category: Defence&Security

Published on Sunday, 24 September 2023 15:40

September 24, 2023

Kosovo police have just confirmed that one of the attackers was killed in the shootout near Banjska, adding that the situation in the north of Kosovo is still tense.

„The situation in the north of Kosovo, more precisely in the area of the village of Banjska, is still tense, criminal groups from time to time attack police units in the field, which, despite the attacks on them, continue to engage in the creation of a security perimeter, in the interest of calming the situation, providing security and the rule of law and order in Kosovo,“ the police statement says.

The police said that a significant number of professionals, masked and wearing various uniforms and armed with heavy weapons, grenades and military vehicles took over various private spaces and facilities, including in and around the Banjska monastery, where they continued attacks on police units.

Police said that, according to information from the ground, one of the attackers was killed.

Source:  https://n1info.rs/english/news/kosovo-police-one-of-the-attackers-was-killed/

Kurti-30 heavily armed professionals are attacking the Kosovo police

Details

Category: Defence&Security

Published on Sunday, 24 September 2023 14:42

September 24, 2023

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said that at least 30 "heavily armed professionals" are attacking the Kosovo police and that one of its members was killed, one was wounded, and one was injured.

At the press conference, Kurti once again made serious accusations against Belgrade saying that Serbia’s authorities „financed and orchestrated“ the attack, but also admitted that only after the investigation will it be determined „who police are dealing with“. He added that the attackers were wearing masks.

He said that after being obstructed on the road, the Kosovo policemen were attacked with various weapons, including hand grenades.

„Today is a difficult day for our country,“ said the Prime Minister of Kosovo.

He added that attacks by armed groups are still continuing and condemned what he called a „terrorist attack“.

„This is a crime financed by the official Belgrade by attacking our country. We protect and enforce legality and defend independent Kosovo,“ he said.

At the press conference, he showed footage of persons armed with heavy weapons in six vehicles without licence plates and one armoured vehicle, wearing camouflage uniforms, around and inside the Banjska monastery.

„The photos show that these are not armed civilians or ‘smuggling gangs’, but professional military and police forces that have entered the territory of Kosovo. Both inside the monastery and outside the monastery, you can see armoured cars without licence plates and heavy weapons next to the outer wall,“ said Kurti, quoted by KoSSev.

Meanwhile, KFOR said it is closely monitoring the situation in Banjska, and that troops are present in the area and ready to react if necessary.

Source:  https://n1info.rs/english/news/kurti-30-heavily-armed-professionals-are-attacking-the-kosovo-police/

Shootout between police and „heavily armed, uniformed“ persons in north Kosovo ongoing

Details

Category: Defence&Security

Published on Sunday, 24 September 2023 14:42

September 24, 2023

A shootout between police and heavily armed persons in northern Kosovo is ongoing after the incident on Saturday night in which one Kosovo police officer was killed and another one injured, KoSSev reports.

„They are shooting at us, and we are shooting too,“ Veton Eljsani, deputy commander of the Kosovo Police for the North region, told KoSSev.

 „We see armed, uniformed people, heavy weapons, they are shooting at us, we are shooting,“ he said, but would not confirm what uniforms these persons wear and who they are, but noted that they use armored vehicles.

Military analyst Vlado Radulovic stressed that the most important thing is that the situation in the north of Kosovo „does not take on wider proportions and escalate further“.

In a statement to the Beta agency, he assessed that, due to long-lasting tensions, „it was only a matter of time“ when „a situation like this morning’s will occur“.

„It seems that we are in a critical phase when there could potentially be a further spiral of spreading violence, so that this is not just an isolated incident… and I hope that it will not come to that,“ said Radulovic.

In the night between Saturday and Sunday, a rapid intervention unit of the border police noticed that at the entrance to the village of Banjska two heavy trucks without license plates blocking the entrance to a bridge. Three police units were deployed to the area.

„As soon as they arrived at the location of the blockade, they encountered resistance, where shots were fired from a different arsenal of firearms, including hand grenades and pistols from some positions, during which two policemen were shot,“ the statement said.

Police said the officers reacted in self-defense and managed to push back the initial attack in order to create conditions to provide assistance and retrieval of the injured officers.

„The injured police officers were pulled out of the location and transported to the Regional Hospital in South Mitrovica, where the doctor declared the death of one, while the other was injured,“ the statement said.

Source:  https://n1info.rs/english/news/shootout-between-police-and-heavily-armed-uniformed-persons-in-north-kosovo-ongoing/

Attack on police in Kosovo-One officer killed, another wounded

Details

Category: Defence&Security

Published on Sunday, 24 September 2023 14:41

September 24, 2023

One policeman was killed and another was wounded in an attack on a unit of the Kosovo police on Saturday evening at the entrance to the village of Banjska in the northern Kosovo.

Police said that, while performing his duties in North Mitrovica, the rapid intervention unit of the border police noticed that at the entrance to the village of Banjska two heavy trucks without license plates blocking the entrance to a bridge. Three police units were deployed to the area.

„As soon as they arrived at the location of the blockade, they encountered resistance, where shots were fired from a different arsenal of firearms, including hand grenades and pistols from some positions, during which two policemen were shot,“ the statement said.

Police said the officers reacted in self-defense and managed to push back the initial attack in order to create conditions to provide assistance and retrieval of the injured officers.

„The injured police officers were pulled out of the location and transported to the Regional Hospital in South Mitrovica, where the doctor declared the death of one, while the other was injured,“ the statement said.

Meanwhile, thehead of Eulex arrived at the police station in the northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica. All roads to the village of Banjska from the direction of Leposavic, Zubin Potok and Zvečan are blocked.

The US Ambassador in Pristina, Jevri Hovenier, said that the United States strongly condemns the attacks on Kosovo police, noting that the police has full and legitimate responsibility for enforcing the rule of law in accordance with the constitution and laws of Kosovo.

The Special Representative of the Secretary General of the UN in Kosovo and the head of UNMIK, Karolina Zijade, also condemned the attack.

Source:  https://n1info.rs/english/news/attack-on-police-in-kosovo-one-officer-killed-another-wounded/

Vucic denies raising combat readiness

Details

Category: Defence&Security

Published on Sunday, 24 September 2023 14:40

September 22, 2023

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic denied ordering the military to a higher state of combat readiness in the Raska area bordering Kosovo.

He said that the military was conducting regular activities. Movements by military units in the Raska area were reported earlier.

“When we raised combat readiness to the highest level there were a lot of our soldiers there but that is not the case now. Regular activities have been stepped up. We are training the army to be strong, have exercises and if there is any raising of combat readiness you will be informed immediately,” Vucic told reporters in New York.

Source:  https://n1info.rs/english/news/vucic-denies-raising-combat-readiness/

Kosovo minister Svecla accuses Vucic of inspiring bomb attack

Details

Category: Defence&Security

Published on Sunday, 24 September 2023 14:39

September 22, 2023

Kosovo Internal Affairs Minister Xhelal Svecla accused Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic of inspiring a bombing in a multi-ethnic part of the majority-Serb Mitrovica North.

Svecla said in a Facebook post that the criminal groups that bombed house in the Bosnjacka Mahala neighborhood of the divided city were inspired by Vucic. A bomb was thrown at a house in the neighborhood on Thursday night following the arrest of three Serbs alleged to have committed war crimes.

“The inspiration, support and order for that crime came from Aleksandar Vucic, the former propaganda minister under Slobodan Milosevic. Serbia committed genocide in Kosovo. Serbia, headed by Vucic, does not accept that fact but also glorifies war criminals. The proof of its unchanged stand is the planning of the bombing,” Svecla said.

Source:  https://n1info.rs/english/news/kosovo-minister-svecla-accuses-vucic-of-inspiring-bomb-attack/

Serbia’s weapons exports to exceed $ 1.6 bn

Details

Category: Defence&Security

Published on Sunday, 24 September 2023 14:34

September 22, 2023

Assistant Minister for Material Resources at the Serbian Ministry of Defense Nenad Miloradovic said the total value of licenses for the export of Serbian arms and military equipment will exceed 1.6 billion US dollars this year.

Miloradovic told the daily Politika that this is an increase of 25 percent compared to 2022, when the value of issued licenses amounted to 1.3 billion US dollars.

Commenting on the Partner 2023 Defense Exhibition, due to start on Monday, September 25, at the Belgrade Fair, Miloradovic said there will be 154 exhibitors and that over 30 foreign military delegations have announced their attendance.

Miloradovic said that 26 new “capital combat systems” made in Serbia will be presented at the exhibition, along with a few novelties manufactured in cooperation with foreign partners.

Source:  https://n1info.rs/english/news/serbia-s-weapons-exports-to-exceed-1-6-bn/

Serbian-led police operation leads to arrests, cocaine seizure

Details

Category: Defence&Security

Published on Sunday, 03 September 2023 19:39

September 1, 2023

The Internal Affairs Ministry (MUP) said that the Serbian police headed an international operation which led to the seizure of 2.7 tons of cocaine and several arrests.

According to a MUP press release the operation was coordinated with Europol and the police in several European countries in cooperation with Serbian organized crime prosecutors and the Security Information Agency (BIA).

Europol said in its press release that it supported the dismantling of a large-drug trafficking organisation, investigated under the Europol coordinated Operational Taskforce Balkan Cartel. The Serbia-led operation, involved law enforcement authorities from Brazil, Croatia, France, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Slovenia, and was supported by the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre – Narcotics (MAOC-N).

The Europol press release said that August 24 action day led to 6 arrests, 15 house searches, the seizure of 2.7 tons of cocaine as well as two high-end vehicles, luxury watches and over EUR 550,000 in cash. It said that a large number of bank accounts and properties were blocked for the duration of the on-going financial investigation with investigators identifying a Serbian national as one of the main organisers of the criminal network.

“The takedown of three encrypted communication tools used by criminals, namely Encrochat, Sky ECC and Anom, has given international law enforcement an unprecedented insight into criminal networks and how they function. One trend uncovered was the important role of criminal networks largely composed of nationals from nationals of countries in the Balkan region play in the global cocaine trade,” Europol said and added that it created the Operational Taskforce Balkan Cartel to provide a response to this threat. Europol said that the police in Brazil, Croatia, France, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia and Spain took part in the operation.

The MUP press release said that 4 arrests were made in Serbia.

Source:  https://n1info.rs/english/news/serbian-led-police-operation-leads-to-arrests-cocaine-seizure/

More than 1,800 reported missing in Serbia in 2022

Details

Category: Defence&Security

Published on Sunday, 03 September 2023 15:02

August 30, 2023

The Center for Missing and Abused Children said on Wednesday that more than 1,800 people were reported missing in Serbia last year.

It cited figures released by the Internal Affairs Ministry (MUP) which showed that 1,801 people were reported missing, 1,620 of who were found with 181 still missing. The Center said that 2,830 people were reported missing in 2021m 2,785 of who were found.

“The most common reasons for anyone to decide to leave their surroundings include mental health, most often depression, anxiety and dementia,” the press release said adding that other reasons include family conflicts, violence over women, bad living conditions and financial difficulties.

Source:  https://n1info.rs/english/news/more-than-1800-reported-missing-in-serbia-in-2022/

Former Serbian ambassador Bozovic banned entry in Montenegro again

Details

Category: Defence&Security

Published on Sunday, 03 September 2023 14:45

August 26, 2023

Former ambassador of Serbia to Montenegro, Vladimir Bozovic, was returned on Saturday from the Rance border crossing and was not allowed to enter Montenegro, despite the decision of the Administrative Court and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to allow him to enter Montenegro, local broadcaster RTCG reported.

In a telephone statement to RTCG, after he was banned from entering the country, Bozovic said that he was shocked by the decision of the Montenegrin state authorities.

“This is a first-class scandal. You have seen the ruling of the Administrative Court and the decision of the Ministry of the Internal Affairs of Montenegro on allowing me to enter Montenegro. That’s why I decided to come again today, but at the Rance border crossing I was handed a decision banning me the entry again,” said Bozovic.

Last year Bozovic was banned from entering the country, at a decision of the National Security Agency director Savo Kantera, under the explanation that Bozovic posed a threat to Montenegro’s national security.

Source:  https://n1info.rs/english/news/former-serbian-ambassador-bozovic-banned-entry-in-montenegro-again/

KFOR airborne exercise in Mitrovica South area

Details

Category: Defence&Security

Published on Sunday, 03 September 2023 13:36

August 21, 2023

KFOR said on Monday that traffic in part of Mitrovica South would be stopped periodically over the next few days because of an airborne exercise.

“The US contingent assigned to KFOR Regional Command East will conduct an airborne activity in an open field near Polac, in the South Mitrovica municipality in the next few days,” a press release said.

It said that US National Guard paratroopers and helicopters from the Bondsteel Task Force will be engaged in the static line jump exercise “to maintain specific capability referred to airborne units”.

“Due to safety concerns, traffic on the road adjacent to the training area, is anticipated to be stopped periodically throughout the training event,” the press release said.

Source:  https://n1info.rs/english/news/kfor-airborne-exercise-in-mitrovica-south-area/

KFOR exercise in western Kosovo

Details

Category: Defence&Security

Published on Tuesday, 04 July 2023 11:32

July 3, 2023

KFOR said on Monday that its Regional Command – West (RC-W) is scheduled to stage a routine military exercise in western Kosovo on July 4-6.

“The training activity will be conducted by RC-W Multinational Contingent and will improve Units readiness and preparation. KFOR soldiers and vehicles will be deployed in the municipalities of Istok/Istog, Strpce/Shterpce, Mamusa/Mamushe, Decane/Decan, Djakovica/Gjakove., Dragas/Dragash, Elez Han/Hani i Elezit and Kacanik,” a press release said.

It added that the exercise will include day and night movement and helicopter flights over Djakovica, Strpce and Mamusa with heavy vehicle convoys transiting primary and secondary roads in the area.

“KFOR conducts such routine exercises for rehearsal and training purposes to provide a timely and safe response,” the press release said adding that the NATO-led force is focused on providing a safe and secure environment for all communities in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999.

Source:   https://n1info.rs/english/news/kfor-exercise-in-western-kosovo/

Police finalise campaign of collecting weapons and mine-explosive devices

Details

Category: Defence&Security

Published on Tuesday, 04 July 2023 10:59

July 2, 2023

The deadline for handing in illegal weapons expired on Friday, with a total of 108,883 pieces of weapon and mine-explosive devices collected, Police Major Bojana Otovic-Pjanovic told N1.

“As members of the Interior Ministry we are very satisfied, primarily because of the great responsibility shown by our citizens. We all contributed together to make us safer as a society,” she said.

She also emphasised it is very difficult for people to give up something they inherited from their ancestors, including weapons.

Otovic-Pjanovic noted there a destruction plan will be made for this weapon.

“Most of the mine-explosive parts will be destroyed, and as for weapons, we have recycling centers where pieces of weapons are taken for destruction. A large part of these functional parts of weapons will be handed over to the ‘Zastava’ weapons factory, where the real weapons are for members of the police and army,” she added.

The campaign of handing in both legal and illegal weapons was launched immediately after two mass murders took place in Serbia – in one, a 13-year-old boy killed nine students and a school guard in a school in Belgrade, while in the other, a 21-year-old man killed eight people, and earlier another 14.

Source:  https://n1info.rs/english/news/police-finalise-campaign-of-collecting-weapons-and-mine-explosive-devices/

BiH Court delivers first verdict in a case using Sky app as evidence

Details

Category: Defence&Security

Published on Friday, 23 June 2023 11:31

June 23, 2023

The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina delivered the first verdict in cases with evidence gained from the Sky messaging app.

In the case of Sako Bibic et al., the accused Alem Zukic, born in 1991 in Sarajevo, fully pleaded guilty to the criminal offence of organized crime in connection with the criminal offence of illicit traffic in narcotic drugs from the Criminal Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as charged by the indictment of the BiH Prosecutor's Office.

As announced by the Prosecutor's Office, a prison sentence of 1 year, a minor fine in the amount of 4,000 Bosnian marks (some € 2,000) and confiscation of illegal property in the amount of € 2,000 have been proposed for the accused.

“The accused admitted his participation in the international smuggling of the narcotic drug marihuana “skunk” from BiH to the EU territory. The accused cooperated with the prosecuting authorities from the very beginning of the criminal proceedings and, with his testimony at the very beginning of the investigative activities, greatly contributed to the successful and efficient conclusion of the investigation,” the Prosecutor's Office stated.

The accused was arrested as part of the “Diablo” operation. The evidence was obtained with the help of the Sky app.

Source:  https://n1info.ba/english/news/bih-court-delivers-first-verdict-in-a-case-using-sky-app-as-evidence/