Kosovo Arrests 9 People over Canal Explosion Blamed on Serbia
Kosovo’s Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla says police have arrested eight people after an explosion hit a canal that sends water to its two main power plants, an incident Pristina labelled a “terrorist act” by neighbouring Serbia.
Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic denied what he said were “baseless accusations” about Belgrade’s involvement in the incident, which occurred at approximately 7pm (18:00 GMT) on Friday near the town of Zubin Potok in the troubled north of the country, some 16km (10 miles) from the border with Serbia.
“Somehow, we managed to fix the damage, arrest the suspects and confiscate a huge arsenal of weapons,” Svecla said during a livestreamed news conference on Saturday.
Sign upOpen the menu
Kosovo police arrest eight people over canal explosion blamed on Serbia
Serbia condemns ‘baseless’ claims made by Kosovo over blast at canal supplying country’s two major power plants.
' x='0' y='0' height='100%25' width='100%25' xlink%3Ahref='data%3Aimage/jpeg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wBDABALDA4MChAODQ4SERATGCgaGBYWGDEjJR0oOjM9PDkzODdASFxOQERXRTc4UG1RV19iZ2hnPk1xeXBkeFxlZ2P/2wBDARESEhgVGC8aGi9jQjhCY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2P/wAARCAAGAAkDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUG/8QAHRAAAQQCAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgABAwQTIREyY//EABQBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH/xAAVEQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAf/aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8Ay8+OlW1EJlIIu3LddKdn8xREGv/Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
A canal in Varage, northern Kosovo, supplying water to two coal-fired power plants that generate nearly all of the country's electricity, was damaged in an explosion, on November 29, 2024 [Valdrin Xhemaj/Reuters]
Published On 30 Nov 202430 Nov 2024
Updated:
3 hours ago
Kosovo’s Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla says police have arrested eight people after an explosion hit a canal that sends water to its two main power plants, an incident Pristina labelled a “terrorist act” by neighbouring Serbia.
Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic denied what he said were “baseless accusations” about Belgrade’s involvement in the incident, which occurred at approximately 7pm (18:00 GMT) on Friday near the town of Zubin Potok in the troubled north of the country, some 16km (10 miles) from the border with Serbia.
“Somehow, we managed to fix the damage, arrest the suspects and confiscate a huge arsenal of weapons,” Svecla said during a livestreamed news conference on Saturday.
Police commander Gazmend Hoxha said those arrested “are suspected of inciting, organising and even executing these recent terrorist acts and in particular the one in the canal of Iber Lepenc”.
Hoxha said an initial investigation had shown that between 15-20kg (33-44 pounds) of explosives were used in the attack.
Kosovo police raided 10 locations, confiscating more than 200 military uniforms, six shoulder-fired rocket launchers, long weapons, pistols and ammunition, he added.
