Kurti warns of possibility of new violent attacks by 'criminal structures' from Serbia

(Patria) - Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said today that there is a growing risk of a repeat of violent attacks by "criminal structures of Serbia in Kosovo."

Speaking at a session of the Kosovo government in Pristina, Kurti said that their main goal is to "blame the Kosovo police and portray them as a force oppressing Kosovo Serbs."

- To achieve this, they will not spare any means - Kurti said.

Kurti issued this warning about three weeks after the Kosovo police were attacked on September 24 by an armed group of Serbs in the village of Banjska in the municipality of Zvečan, where police officer Afrim Bunjaku was killed.

In the subsequent clashes in Banjska, three attackers of Serbian nationality were killed.

Serbia rejected Kosovo's accusations that it was behind the attack, which Kosovo authorities described as "an attempt to annex the north of Kosovo."

Responsibility for the attack was claimed by Milan Radoičić, then vice president of the largest party of Kosovo Serbs - the Serbian List - which is supported by official Belgrade.

Kurti said that after the attack, Serbia declared a day of mourning and declared the three Serbs killed in Banjska as heroes, which, according to him, could be an incentive for possible new attacks in Kosovo.

- Unfortunately, the support that the terrorist group received from Serbia, on the one hand treating them as heroes and martyrs, and on the other hand intensifying military activities along the border with our republic, only encouraged them - Kurti assessed.

He called on Kosovo Serbs to "be careful in the coming days, weeks and months" and not to participate in "staged and malicious acts of violence," reports RSE.

- In Kosovo, we are all equal citizens because the state is legal and society is democratic. There are no unwanted communities.

I invite you to rely on the Kosovo Police and report suspicious behavior of individuals in your communities - Kurti said.