Global InformationBanjska attack information
| Banjska attack | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of North Kosovo crisis | |||||||
 The attack site | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Kosovo |
 Serbian militantsSupported by:  Serbia(claimed by Kosovo)[1] | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Vjosa Osmani Albin Kurti Xhelal Sveçla Gazmend Hoxha Amir Gërguri |
Milan Radoičić (WIA)[8][9][10] | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
|
|
 Civilna Zaštita[11] Severna Brigada[12] | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
|
460 special forces (claimed by Serbia)[13] |
30 militants[14] 26 SUVs 2 APCs[15] | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
1 killed[16][17] 2 injured[17][16] |
3 killed[18][19][20] 8 captured[21][22] 2–6 injured[23][24] 3 drones seized[11][25] 2 ATVs seized[11][25] 2 APCs and 26 SUVs seized[14][11][25][26] | ||||||
The Banjska attack (Albanian: Sulmi në Banjskë; Serbian: Напад у Бањској, romanized: Napad u Banjskoj) was an armed attack carried out by Serb militants against the Kosovo Police which took place in the village of Banjska located in North Kosovo on 24 September 2023.
Between 23 and 24 September 2023, Serb militants initiated an attack on Kosovo police as they responded to a situation where trucks lacking license plates were blocking a bridge in Banjska. This incident resulted in the death of Kosovar sergeant Afrim Bunjaku, who was posthumously honored with the Hero of Kosovo order. Subsequently, the attackers sought refuge within Banjska Monastery, which was eventually retaken by the Kosovo Police. During this operation, three of the militants were killed, and a significant cache of weaponry was confiscated. A total of eight people were subsequently apprehended, four of whom were later released. Notably, Serb List Vice-president Milan Radoičić was implicated and later admitted responsibility for the attack, leading to his subsequent arrest.
In the aftermath of the attack, Kosovo, Albania and the European Union, along with several other nations, issued condemnations. Kosovo, the European Union and European Parliament classified the incident as a terrorist attack.[27][28][29] Kosovo's Assembly denounced the incident and called for an international inquiry into alleged Serbian state involvement, urging appropriate measures by Western nations. Furthermore, the buildup of Serbian military forces along the Kosovo border prompted regional widespread concern, with calls for de-escalation and the bolstering of NATO deployments. Kosovo alleged Serbian state involvement, presenting evidence of training on Serbian territory. Concurrently, the Kosovo Intelligence Agency confirmed reports of a Serbian base construction near the border.
- ^ "Kosovo police surround 30 gunmen in monastery after officer shot". BBC News. 24 September 2023. Archived from the original on 24 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
- ^ "Kosovo und Serbien: Bisher schwerste Zusammenstöße". FAZ.NET (in German). 25 September 2023. ISSN 0174-4909. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- ^ "Raportohet se Njësia Speciale ka hyrë brenda manastirit të Banjskës". Bota Sot. Archived from the original on 24 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
- ^ "Kosovo monastery siege ends after heavy gun battles". BBC News. 24 September 2023. Archived from the original on 24 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
f1was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ I, L. (24 September 2023). "Kurti: Policia e Kosovës konfiskoi sot qindra armë dhe municione". Klan Kosova (in Albanian). Archived from the original on 24 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
- ^ Dunai, Marton (24 September 2023). "Siege of Serb monastery in Kosovo ends after militants withdraw". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- ^ "Drejtori i Policisë: Në mesin e të dyshuarve ka qenë edhe Milan Radojçiqi" [Police Director: Milan Radoičić was among the suspects] (in Albanian). Klan Kosova. 25 September 2023. Archived from the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
- ^ "Ekskluzive: Plagoset Milan Radojicic" [Exclusive: Milan Radojicic is injured]. IndeksOnline (in Albanian). 25 September 2023. Archived from the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
- ^ "Mediumi boshnjak: Millan Radoiçiq ishte plagosur gjatë sulmit terrorist në veri të Kosovës" [Bosnian medium: Milan Radoicic was injured during the terrorist attack in the north of Kosovo] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 25 September 2023. Archived from the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Detaje për aksionin e policisë dhe municionet që u gjetën në Banjskë" [Details about the police action and the ammunition found in Banjska] (in Albanian). Kallxo. 25 September 2023. Archived from the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
- ^ "Sveçla: Sulmuesit pjesë e organizatave "Mbrojtja Civile" dhe "Brigada e Veriut"" [Sveçla: The attackers are part of the "Civil Defense" and "North Brigade" organizations] (in Albanian). Voice of America. 25 September 2023. Archived from the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
- ^ "Vučić Otkrio Da Su Kosovski Policajci Ostavili Srbina Da Umre: Okupili 460 specijalaca, sve bila Pripema". espreso.co.rs (in Serbian). Archived from the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
- ^ a b "Kosovarischer Polizist offenbar von serbischer Kampftruppe erschossen". euronews (in German). 24 September 2023. Archived from the original on 24 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
- ^ "Dalin pamjet nga momenti kur terroristët serbë ikin maleve nga Policia e Kosovës" [The images from the moment when the Serbian terrorists flee to the mountains from the Kosovo Police are released] (in Albanian). Bota Sot. 25 September 2023. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- ^ a b "Police officer killed in attack in north Kosovo". Al Arabiya English. 24 September 2023. Archived from the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
- ^ a b Zhinipotoku, Zenel; Semini, Llazar. "Masked gunmen attack Kosovo police and kill 1 officer in an escalation of tensions with Serbia". ABC News. Archived from the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
- ^ Kote, Kristo (28 September 2023). "Kosovo Accuses Serbia of Involvement in Paramilitary Ambush". Albanian Daily News. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
RFERLwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Kosovo on edge after deadly clashes stir unease". France24. Agence France-Presse. 30 September 2023. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
- ^ Bami, Xhorxhina; Dragoljo, Sasa; Jeremic, Ivana (27 September 2023). "Kosovo Frees Four Serbs after Clashes, Alleges New Serbia Link". Balkan Insight. Archived from the original on 2 October 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
- ^ Cimili, Zana (28 September 2023). "Kosovo accuses Serbia of direct involvement in deadly clashes and investigates possible Russian role". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 3 October 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
- ^ "Rashiq: Two attackers killed, one injured and one arrested". KOHA. Archived from the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
- ^ "Sveçla: Gjashtë terroristë po trajtohen në Novi Pazar, Serbia t'i dorëzojë ata" [Sveçla: Six terrorists are being treated in Novi Pazar, Serbia should hand them over] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 25 September 2023. Archived from the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
- ^ a b c "Krejt arsenali i armatimit që u kap nga policia në veri" [The entire arsenal of weapons that was seized by the police in the north] (in Albanian). Klan Kosova. 25 September 2023. Archived from the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
- ^ "Arrestohen edhe dy persona në veri, shkon në tetë numri i tyre – konfiskohen edhe armë" [Two more people are arrested in the north, bringing their number to eight – weapons are also confiscated] (in Albanian). Telegrafi. 26 September 2023. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- ^ "Kurti: Serbia të mbahet plotësisht përgjegjëse për sulmet në veri" [Kurti: Serbia should be held fully accountable for the attack in the north]. Koha Ditore (in Albanian). 25 September 2023. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- ^ "Kosovo: High Representative Borrell speaks to Prime Minister Kurti and President Vučić following the attack against Kosovo Police". European Union External Action. 24 September 2023. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
- ^ "European Parliament approves resolution for Serbia's attack on Banjska | Euronews Albania". euronews.al. 19 October 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2023.