Kosovo deploys police units to increase security in multi-ethnic northern city

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) – Kosovo began deploying more police units late Thursday to the north of the country as tensions rose between ethnic Serbs and the Pristina government, according to the Interior Ministry.

Local media reported that non-Serb units of the Kosovo police had started entering the northern areas of Mitrovica to ensure security in the multi-ethnic parts of the city, where Albanians and Bosnians also live.

It was announced that the situation is calm as of now and security measures were taken because non-Serbs felt threatened following a series of attacks this week.

Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla said it is the duty of the Kosovo police to maintain security and order.

”In recent days, after the consecutive armed attacks on police officers and citizens in the north of the country, an increased police presence in order to provide security to all citizens has been deemed necessary,” said Svecla.

He also urged citizens to remain calm.

Tensions between Serbia and Kosovo flared last month when ethnic Serbs in Kosovo withdrew from all central and local institutions to protest the decision to replace car license plates issued by Serbian authorities with those from Kosovo.

Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008, with most UN member states, including the US, the UK, France, Germany and Türkiye recognizing it as an autonomous country. But Serbia continues to insist that Kosovo is its territory.