In a tragic turn of events, Kosovo was plunged into mourning as one police officer was killed and another injured in a shocking shooting incident that occurred in a northern village during the early hours of Sunday. This incident marks a concerning escalation of violence in the region, the first of its kind in several months, according to a statement by Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

Prime Minister Kurti, addressing the grim situation, expressed his deep concern in a statement posted on Facebook, revealing that the gunfire exchange involving various caliber firearms against the police was ongoing at the time of his announcement. He characterised the incident as an act of terrorism, underlining the formidable nature of the assailants involved. “The attackers are professionals wearing masks and heavily armed,” Kurti remarked.

Tensions have been simmering in Kosovo, a former Serbian province, following earlier clashes in May that resulted in injuries to over 90 NATO peacekeeping soldiers and approximately 50 Serb protesters in northern Kosovo. These events have added to the complex and delicate political landscape in the region.

Kosovo is characterised by a predominantly ethnic Albanian population, accounting for more than 90% of its inhabitants. However, it is in the northern region where Serbs constitute the majority, and plans for a Serb-majority municipalities association have been a source of contention.