Kosovo police said three of the 30 attackers who killed a police officer and wounded another in a village in Serb-majority northern Kosovo early this morning were killed in a shootout with police, Reuters reported, citing BTA.
According to the information, the attackers barricaded themselves in a monastery in the village of Banska, where they attacked a Kosovo police patrol at night. According to the Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo, there are pilgrims from Novi Sad and a visiting abbot who sought safety inside the monastery.
According to the Kosovo authorities, the attackers are heavily armed with firearms and grenades and have armored vehicles.
Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and President Vjosa Osmani blamed the attack on Serbian-backed criminal groups. Belgrade rejected these claims. A statement from Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic is expected later.
The attack on a Kosovo police patrol was condemned by the EU and the US, and the US embassy in Pristina said Kosovo police had responsibility for enforcing the rule of law in the area.
NATO’s KFOR mission said it has forces in the area to intervene if necessary.
