Shortly after Kosovo’s Minister of Interior Xhelal Svecla announced that four police officers had been suspended and later arrested, the PIK (Police Inspectorate of Kosovo) released a late-night statement with new details: One of the police officers involved in the wounding of a Serb on the Leposavić – Zvečan road has been charged with attempted murder. While Svecla points out that the police officers were suspended and arrested for not reporting a criminal offense, the PIK confirmed that one of them is charged with attempted murder (as mentioned in this morning’s 24-hour police report).
The Serb M. J. from the village of Žerovnica near Zvečan was wounded last night by gunfire on the Bistrica Bridge, where special units of the Kosovo Police have been stationed since December of last year.
There has been confusion in the public since last night due to conflicting statements – first between the Serbian and Kosovo sides, and then by the Kosovo Police themselves, which continues tonight.
Although they initially strongly denied involvement in the wounding of the Serb last night, the Kosovo Police changed their statement today.
They admitted that one of their police officers was involved in the shooting. The reason for denying their involvement in the incident is that the police officer did not admit it to them.
The police officers have since been suspended and arrested after being questioned by the PIK.
They were given a 48-hour detention measure. As Svecla mentioned earlier tonight, one is charged with “failure to report involvement in the case,“ and three others are suspected of not reporting the incident.
However, the PIK issued a statement immediately after Svecla’s announcement, explaining that three police officers were suspended for not reporting a criminal offense, but the fourth is also charged with attempted murder.
They reached these findings, as they stated, based on further investigation.
Earlier today the police stated that it was about “participation in a shooting with firearms.“
However, parallel to this statement, in the 24-hour police report, the Kosovo Police reported an “attempted murder,” stating that it happened last night around 10 PM in the municipality of Leposavić, that one person was injured by gunfire and treated at a hospital in North Mitrovica.
Although the Bistrica Bridge is located in the Zvecan municipality, for months, including today’s police statements about last night’s incident, the Kosovo Police have identified this location as part of Leposavic.
PIK investigators, as announced tonight, continue the investigation to clarify all circumstances of this case.
That is precisely what the U.S. Ambassador to Pristina requested from Kosovo institutions today, while expressing concern about the incident and criticizing the police for initially denying their involvement in the incident, because, as he said, they lacked due diligence.
The wounding of the Serb on the Bistrica Bridge late tonight has been met with several reactions from international representatives and organizations in Kosovo. The incident was condemned by the OSCE and the EU Office in Kosovo – with a call for those responsible to be brought to justice.
The Srpska lista and Petar Petković (the head of the Serbia’s Office for Kosovo and Metohija) have criticized the lack of reaction from international officials today.
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