Kosovo Arrests Suspects after Explosion at Key Canal, Serbia Denies Involvement
Kosovo Arrests Suspects
Kosovo arrested several suspects on Saturday after an explosion at a key canal feeding two of its main power plants, while neighbouring Serbia rejected accusations of staging the blast.
Explosion and Investigation
The explosion on Friday near the town of Zubin Potok, which sits in an ethnic Serb-dominated area in Kosovo’s troubled north, damaged a canal that supplies water to hundreds of thousands of people and cooling systems at two coal-fired power plants that generate most of Kosovo’s electricity.
As security forces swarmed the area around the canal, whose concrete walls were left with a gaping hole gushing water, Prime Minister Albin Kurti visited the site and announced that authorities had arrested several people. Law enforcement "carried out searches" and "collected testimony and evidence, and the criminals and terrorists will have to face justice and the law", he said.
Serbia Denies Involvement
Calling it "the most serious attack on critical infrastructure in Kosovo since the end of the war", Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla told the press that police had detained eight suspects. Police chief Gazmend Hoxha said that his office had seized "200 military uniforms, six grenade launchers, two rifles, a pistol, masks, knives" in the operation.
"This is not a trivial attack, it was an act prepared by professional terrorist organisations," Svecla added.
However, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic hit back on Saturday, denying the "irresponsible" and "baseless accusations".
"Such unfounded claims are aimed to tarnish Serbia’s reputation, as well as to undermine efforts to promote peace and stability in the region," he said in a statement to AFP.
International Reaction
The European Union, the United States, France, and Turkey joined the international condemnation of the attack, with the EU labelling it a "terrorist attack".
"It is a despicable act of sabotage on Kosovo’s critical civilian infrastructure, which provides drinking water for (a) considerable part of Kosovo’s population and is a vital component of Kosovo’s energy system," the bloc’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said in a statement.
Fears of Escalation
The NATO-led KFOR peacekeeping mission for Kosovo called for restraint, urging all parties to exercise restraint to avoid escalation in the region.
"It is important that facts are established and that those responsible are held accountable and brought to justice," it said in a statement.
Background and Context
Animosity between ethnic Albanian-majority Kosovo and Serbia has persisted since the end of the war between Serbian forces and ethnic Albanian insurgents in the late 1990s. Kosovo declared independence in 2008, a move that Serbia has refused to acknowledge.
Conclusion
The explosion at the Iber-Lepenc Canal has raised concerns about the potential for escalation in the region, with both sides trading accusations and denials. As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen whether the attack will lead to a further deterioration in relations between Kosovo and Serbia, or whether it will serve as a wake-up call for both sides to work towards a peaceful resolution.
FAQs
Q: What happened at the Iber-Lepenc Canal?
A: An explosion occurred at the canal, damaging it and disrupting water and electricity supplies to hundreds of thousands of people.
Q: Who is responsible for the explosion?
A: The Kosovo authorities have arrested several suspects, but the investigation is ongoing and no one has been officially charged.
Q: Has Serbia been accused of involvement in the explosion?
A: Yes, Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti has accused Serbia of being behind the attack, but Serbia has denied any involvement.
Q: How has the international community reacted to the explosion?
A: The European Union, the United States, France, and Turkey have all condemned the attack, with the EU labelling it a "terrorist attack".