Kosovo Police made arrests after an explosion on the Ibar-Lepenc canal caused significant damage to infrastructure essential for the country’s water and energy supplies, as Kosovo officials accused Serbia of staging a terrorist attack.
Ardita Zeqiri, November 30, 2024
Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti at the site of the explosion that damaged the Ibar-Lepenc canal. Photo: Albin Kurti/Facebook.
Kosovo Police on Saturday said they have arrested an unspecified number of individuals in raids at various locations after an explosion the previous evening caused significant damage to the Ibar-Lepenc water canal in the northern municipality of Zubin Potok.
The canal supplies several towns through the Ujman/Gazivoda Lake, as well as the Kosovo Energy Corporation for cooling its power plants, Kosova A and Kosova B.
“Police are investigating [the case]. There have been raids and arrests, [there is] material evidence and all those criminals and terrorists will face justice,” Prime Minister Albin Kurti said during a visit to the scene of the blast on Saturday.
After the explosion, Kurti late Friday accused Serbia of staging a “criminal and terrorist attack” aimed at damaging critical infrastructure.
He said it was “undoubtedly an attempt to jeopardise the supply of electricity and water in our country”.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic denied his country was involved.
In a statement on Instagram, published in English, Vucic said that “the baseless accusations levelled against Serbia, made hastily and without any supporting evidence, are deeply irresponsible and concerning”.
“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 added, calling for an international investigation.
The Kosovo Security Council on Saturday approved emergency measures to step up security around “critical facilities and services such as bridges, substations, antennas, lakes, canals, etc”, a government statement said.
“The Kosovo Police and the Kosovo Security Force will be activated in the field for this purpose,” it added.
The blast was the third explosion within 72 hours in the northern, Serb-majority part of Kosovo, following blasts at a police station and the municipal building in the city of Zvecan.
The incident happened a few hours after the Kosovo Police announced that they had stepped up security measures all over the country following security incidents in the north.
On Saturday morning, Economy Minister Artane Rizvanolli said that six provisional pipes have been laid at the site of the explosion to secure regular energy and water supply as “there is no risk of the power plants being left without water.”
“At the same time, we have coordinated with the Albanian Energy Corporation to secure additional energy to avoid potential reductions,” Rizvanolli continued.
Diplomatic missions condemned the apparent attack and called for those responsible to be brought to justice.
“We are monitoring the situation closely, will support a comprehensive investigation, and have offered our full support to the Government of Kosovo to ensure that those responsible for this criminal attack are identified and held accountable,” the US embassy in Pristina stated.
Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama claimed the explosion was sabotage and described it as a “serious crime against Kosovo.”
“This criminal act must be investigated and punished as soon as possible with the support of international partners,” Rama wrote on X.
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