According to reports, Kosovo police say an officer was killed in the village of Banjska Close when a band of 30 armed men shot into a group of police officers and killed one officer. Reportedly, they ran and hid in a monastry where three died in a shootout. Not all of the gun men have been apprehended.
According to reports, tensions between serbs and albanians have been high for months following the Kosovo government’s decision to appoint albanian mayors to four predominantly serbian municipalities that border Serbia. Reportedly, the appointments instigated a violent riot by serb protesters, injuring security forces including 30 nato peacekeepers.
Nato have been active in Kosovo since 1999 when they intervened in the war which was part of the breakup of Yugoslavia. According to a report, following air attacks on serbs, nato pushed serbian troops out to what is now Serbia.
Kosovo and Serbia were one prior to Kosovo’s independence in 2008. Reportedly, the Kosovo prime minister blamed the serbian government for the murders in Banjska Close, calling the incident organised crime with support from officials in Belgrade. According to reports, eu brokered peace talks came to nothing earlier this month when Serbia refused to recognise Kosovo’s independence. Reportedly, Josep Borrell, eu representative said the stalemate is hurting both parties’ desire to join the eu. According to the report, border crossings between Kosovo and Serbia are closed.