Kosovo police arrested eight people Saturday following an explosion at a canal supplying water to two main power plants, recovering a large weapons cache in raids as tensions escalated with neighboring Serbia.
Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla announced the arrests during a live-streamed press conference, calling the Friday evening blast a “terrorist act” by Serbia, an accusation Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic immediately rejected as “baseless.”
Police Commander Gazmend Hoxha said investigators determined attackers used 15-20 kilograms of explosives. In subsequent raids at 10 locations, authorities seized more than 200 military uniforms, six shoulder-fired rocket launchers, and various weapons and ammunition. Most suspects allegedly belong to Civilna Zastita (Civil Protection), which Kosovo has designated a terrorist organization.
The explosion has heightened tensions between the Balkan neighbors, particularly in Kosovo’s Serb-majority north where the blast occurred. Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008 following a guerrilla uprising, remains unrecognized by Serbia, and northern Serbs still consider Belgrade their capital.
Kosovo’s Security Council held emergency talks Saturday, activating armed forces to prevent similar attacks. Security was already elevated after recent hand grenade attacks on a police station and municipality building in the north.
NATO, which has maintained peacekeepers in Kosovo since 1999, condemned the attack and deployed personnel to secure the canal and surrounding area. While power supplies remained largely intact, some areas lost drinking water access. Energy Minister Artane Rizvanolli said Kosovo is coordinating with Albania for additional electricity while water trucks serve affected regions.
