Six minors were detained last night in North Mitrovica on suspicion of involvement in an interethnic incident. While initial police reports stated that four Serbs and two Albanians had been arrested, a later statement from Kosovo Police clarified that the detainees included three Serbian boys, a Bosniak, and two Albanians. Authorities admitted that the arrest of the three Serbian minors—who have since been released—was a mistake.
The detention took place in Vlade Ćetković Street, shortly before 9 PM.
One of the released boys stated that they were detained without reason while heading to get food.
“We were just walking when police stopped us, assuming we were involved in a fight with Albanians. They searched us and took us to the station, even though we had nothing to do with it.”
According to his account, officers initially pursued another group involved in the altercation but, failing to apprehend them, turned their attention to the three minors.
“One officer asked for my ID, but another dismissed it and told us to face the wall,” he added. “They even kicked my friend while frisking him.”
Parents of the detained minors gathered outside the police station last night, protesting the lack of notification regarding their children’s arrests.
“Not a single call to the parents! I found out by accident,” one mother exclaimed. “How can a 14-year-old be arrested without cause? They are terrified! You claim to guarantee security in this city, yet you arrest innocent children. Why? Why weren’t we informed?”
KP Admits Mistake
Kosovo Police later admitted that the arrest of the three Serbian minors was a mistake. Petrit Fejza from the KP of the North region confirmed that surveillance footage showed the boys had no involvement in the incident.
“We reviewed the footage, and they were not responsible,” Fejza said. “We didn’t even take their statements—they were released immediately.”
He also corrected initial police reports, which mistakenly stated that four Serbian minors and two Albanians had been arrested. In reality, three Serbian boys were released, while, according to last night’s confirmation from the police, two Albanians and one Bosniak remain in custody.
Details about the nature of the incident that led to the arrests remain unclear.
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