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| Police in northern Kosovo confirming the attacks |
Leaders of Kosovo state institutions, leaders of opposition political parties, and security experts consider the recent attacks on Kosovo Police in the northern part of the country as a security alarm in Kosovo. Almost everyone has demanded that these attacks be taken seriously and seen as an attempt to destabilize Kosovo and the region as a whole.
The Office of the President of Kosovo has described these attacks as an attempt to destabilize the security situation in Kosovo.
President Vjosa Osmani's chief of staff, Blerim Vela, said that these attacks were carried out by Serbia and its criminal structures.
"In recent days, Serbia and its criminal structures have carried out several attacks targeting the Kosovo Police in the north. These actions accompanied by misinformation attempts aim to destabilize the security and political situation in Kosovo. They will fail, the rule of law will prevail," Vela wrote on Twitter.
The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, referring to the sources who have identified Thursday's attack as "coming from Serbia", has called on Serbia to distance itself from the violent terrorist attacks on the Police.
"For three days in a row (April 13–15), Kosova Police officers have been attacked at the border crossing point with Serbia. Yesterday & early today, a hail of bullets & a hand grenade were thrown at our police. Our sources have identified yesterday’s attack as coming from Serbia.," Kurti wrote.
For three days in a row (April 13–15), Kosova Police officers have been attacked at the border crossing point with Serbia. Yesterday & early today, a hail of bullets & a hand grenade were thrown at our police. Our sources have identified yesterday’s attack as coming from Serbia. pic.twitter.com/2msSq7e2yJ
— Albin Kurti (@albinkurti) April 15, 2022
The leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Memli Krasniqi, has described the attack on the Kosovo Police in the north as an act of criminals and deniers of Kosovo's sovereignty that provoke peace and security in Kosovo. But he stressed that they will not achieve these goals.
"The attack on the Kosovo Police near the border points with Serbia is a criminal and intolerable act that aims to violate the rule of law for the benefit of criminals, at a time when Kosovo needs stability and security while denying our sovereignty suits unrest and provocation of peace. Both of these goals are and will remain unattainable against our multiethnic society and our sovereign and independent state", said the chairman of PDK, in a Facebook report.
The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) has expressed concern about the armed attacks on Kosovo police officers and has expressed full support for security institutions.
"LDK offers all the necessary support to the Kosovo Police and other security institutions in exercising their constitutional duties and guaranteeing security throughout the territory of the Republic of Kosovo," said LDK.
The chairman of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), Ramush Haradinaj, has described the attacks as acts of organized crime.
"Organized crime has attacked the Kosovo Police. These criminal acts are an alarm for everyone. Organized crime has no political or ethnic affiliation. It endangers all citizens, regardless of ethnicity, so it is in the interest of each individual and community to denounce and fight crime," Haradinaj wrote on Facebook.
The former director of the Kosovo Police, Rashit Qalaj, said that these attacks prove that in the northern part of Kosovo are active individuals and organized criminal groups, linked to the Serbian List and supported by Belgrade.
"These attacks come from individuals and criminal groups that have close ties to the Serbian List, politics in the north, and Belgrade," Qalaj told the Telegraph.
"Kosovo Police and Kosovo Intelligence Agency should collect the necessary information for individuals and groups that deal with these activities and then the Prosecution and Police should complete the procedures for their arrest," he added.
Qalaj said that the capacities of the Kosovo Police in this part of the country should be increased.
While the NATO mission in Kosovo, KFOR, reacted:
"We confirm our readiness to support the Kosovo Police if needed and if required. We expect all parties to behave responsibly and constructively and to refrain from actions that could escalate unnecessarily tensions and negatively affect Kosovo's security and stability in the region," KFOR said in a statement.
KFOR also said that "it remains focused on ensuring a safe environment and freedom of movement for all communities living in Kosovo."