Kosovo's special prosecutors indict 45 in Banjska terrorist attack case

Kosovo's special prosecutors indict 45 in Banjska terrorist attack case
Several militants were killed in a gun battle at the Banjska monastery in northern Kosovo.
By Valentina Dimitrievska in Skopje September 11, 2024

The special prosecutor's office of Kosovo indicted 45 individuals on September 11 in connection with the terrorist attack last year in Banjska, a case that has drawn considerable national and international attention.

Among the indicted is Milan Radoicic, a prominent figure believed to be one of the main organisers of the attack. Previously, Radoicic, former deputy head of the Serb List party in Kosovo, claimed full responsibility for the clashes, stating he had not informed the authorities in Belgrade.

On September 24, 2023, an armed attack took place in the village of Banjska in northern Kosovo, where Serb militants targeted Kosovo police, killing a Kosovar officer. The attackers then took refuge in the Banjska monastery, leading to a swift response from Kosovo police. In the subsequent operation, police regained control of the monastery, killing three militants and seizing a large cache of weapons. Kosovo's Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla said that around 80 gunmen, believed to be ethnic Serbs, had crossed into Kosovo from Serbia in armoured vehicles on the same day.

Speaking at a news conference, chief prosecutor Blerim Isufaj detailed the work involved in bringing the case to this point.

"The special prosecutor's office has carried out several months of intensive work in this large and complex case. After completing the investigations, collecting evidence, and reviewing the findings, we have filed an indictment against the 45 defendants involved," Isufaj was cited by Telegrafi.

The delay in filing the indictment, according to Isufaj, was largely due to the time required to receive and process examination results from abroad.

The case's prosecutor, Naim Abazi, also confirmed that, during the investigation phase, a large amount of assets had been seized or confiscated. These included movable and immovable property, armoured vehicles, cash, and bank accounts, in addition to the confiscation of the weapons and equipment used in the attack.

In particular, the investigation uncovered a complex web of financial networks used for laundering money. Funds were allegedly transferred through businesses registered in the names of third parties and via investments in real estate.

Abazi stressed the seriousness of the charges and the expectation that those involved will be held accountable for their actions.

"We hope that this case will serve as a warning to anyone considering breaking the law and endangering public safety in our country," he concluded.

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