Serbian public broadcaster RTS reported early on Tuesday that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic ordered all Serbian military units to go into full combat readiness after the Kosovo police special unit ROSU had, early on Tuesday morning, deployed forces in the north of Kosovo, arresting police and customs officers as well as civilians.
Serbian police SWAT units were also put on full alert, according to RTS.
The police operation was confirmed by the Kosovo police, who issued a statement saying that several police officers and civilians had been arrested in spite of putting up armed resistance. They are suspected of being a part of organised crime operations engaged in smuggling and other criminal activities.
“This operation comes after months of investigation by the police and special prosecution. (The arrested) are suspected of involvement with criminal groups which engaged in smuggling, abuse of authority, and bribery,” the Kosovo police said.
According to media reports, four customs officers and seven civilians were among the arrested, as well as several Albanian members of Kosovo police forces. Kosovo media reported that one police officer was injured during the operation.
Northern Kosovo is a Serb-populated enclave in the otherwise ethnic Albanian-dominated Kosovo.
Kosovo PM calls for calm
Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj said the operation was directed exclusively against individuals involved in smuggling and other crimes, calling on the Serb minority in northern Kosovo to keep calm.
“Strengthening the rule of law is our country’s and the region’s core interest. Organized crime and smuggling are a direct threat to our mutual progress, and should NOT be supported on ethnic nor any other basis. The government of Serbia should not undermine our efforts to tackle it,” Haradinaj wrote on his Twitter account.
Serbian President: The operation is part of an intimidation campaign against Serbs in Kosovo
Serbian President Vucic rejected the claims that this was a police operation focusing on criminal groups, insisting the police were conducting the arrests under the guise of fight against organised crime and corruption.
“They’re hoping this will cause fear the Serb minority group in the north of Kosovo,” Vucic said at a press conference held at around 11 am.
He claimed that 23 people were arrested in the operation, mainly of Bosniak and Serb nationality, and that the police were shooting live ammunition over the heads of those who came out to peacefully protest.
“Right now Serbs are being beaten up near the school in (the town of) Zubin Potok, homes are being raided. When they do not find who they wanted to arrest, they trash the houses,” he said, adding Serbia is prepared to “protect its people.”
“We will do everything we can to maintain peace and stability, but… I can guarantee that, if the conflicts escalate and there are further attacks on the Serb people, all I can say is – Serbia will prevail,” he said, earning an ovation in the Belgrade parliament.