High tension in northern Kosovo after a local policeman was killed last night following a firefight with an armed group.

In the violent shootout that occurred in the village of Banjska, not far from Leposavic, one of the four largest municipalities in the north with a Serb majority, two other Kosovar officers were injured.

The patrol intervened after a report of a road block implemented by two trucks on a bridge. Firefights continued for many hours throughout the day, with 30 attackers heading towards a nearby Serbian Orthodox monastery, sparking chaos and fear among religious staff and a group of visiting Serbian faithful.

According to the police, three attackers were killed in the clashes, while one was arrested. Also captured were four other suspects found in possession of radio communications equipment and believed to be in contact with the group of armed aggressors who went into action in the north. The news released today according to which eight attackers were killed could not be confirmed.

The condemnatory reaction of the Pristina leadership was immediate, with Prime Minister Albin Kurti and President Vjosa Osmani not hesitating to point the finger at Belgrade, speaking of planned actions by Serbian criminal gangs active in northern Kosovo with the aim of destabilizing the situation.

According to Kurti, the group of armed attackers consisted of "at least 30 men", who were ordered to surrender. Not civilians, he specified, but "professionals, police or military, masked and heavily armed".

(Unioneonline/ss)