UNMIK Police

DAILY PRESS UPDATE

 

THIS REPORT COVERS 24 HOURS AND HAS BEEN CONCLUDED AT

MIDNIGHT OF

16 JANUARY 2000

PRODUCED ON 17 JANUARY 2000 BY 1100 HOURS

 

COMPILED BY COMMISSIONERS PRESS OFFICE

BRUCE LLOY

DMITRY KAPORTSEV

SPOKESPERSONS

 

SECURITY OVERVIEW

 

THE GENERAL SITUATION IN THE MISSION AREA WAS STABLE BUT ACTIVE

 

PRISTINA REGION

 

The following incidents occurred on 15 January

 

ASSAULT

At 1530 hrs, a Serb (gender unknown) was attacked by 8-9 males between 18-20 years of age while leaving a funeral in KOSOVO POLJE. There was no information available regarding the nature of the injuries at the time of this report. (Contact UNMIK Police Regional Press)

 

ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF WEAPON

At 1200 hrs, a Serb (gender unknown) was arrested for the illegal possession of weapons in KOSOVO POLJE. One AK-47 rifle, one shotgun and ammunition were seized. (Contact UNMIK Police Regional Press)

 

ARRESTS

Five individuals were arrested in PRISTINA  within the past 24 hours. Three individuals were arrested for auto theft. One individual was arrested for driving while impaired which resulted in a traffic accident. One individual was arrested for the illegal possession of weapons. (Contact UNMIK Police Regional Press)

 

The following incidents occurred on 16 January.

 

MURDER

At 1415 hrs, a heated argument broke out between two Albanian males over money owed for the purchase of a vehicle. This incident occurred in PRISTINA near the Technical School on Germia road. As a result, one of the men pulled a handgun and shot the victim several times and fled the scene. The victim was confirmed dead at the hospital. The suspect was arrested later in the day by UNMIK Police and KPS officers. The weapon was recovered. (Contact UNMIK Police Regional Press)

 

ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF WEAPONS

At 1750 hrs, three Albanian males were arrested for possession of a grenade and a bayonet in OBILIC. (Contact UNMIK Police Regional Press)

 

ARSON

At 1430 hrs, a house owned by an Albanian was set on fire in METOHIJA. It is believed the house was set on fire by an identified Albanian male. UNMIK Police are investigating. (Contact UNMIK Police Regional Press)

 

TRAIN OBSTRUCTION

At 1715 hrs, the UNMIK Train was stopped on the tracks due to debris being placed on the tracks in KOSOVO POLJE.  Items such as wood, windows and doors were placed on the tracks to obstruct the train. The train will be operational again on 17 January. (Contact UNMIK Police Regional Press)

 

ASSAULT ON OFFICER

At 0300 hrs, an Albanian male  was driving recklessly and attempted to elude UNMIK Police in PRISTINA. After being stopped, he assaulted an UNMIK Police officer. No further information was available at the time of this report. The suspect was arrested. (Contact UNMIK Police Regional Press)

 

MISSING PERSON

An Albanian male reported that his 16 year-old daughter has been missing since 12 January. The complainant and his daughter live in PODUJEVO. UNMIK Police are investigating. (Contact UNMIK Police Regional Press)

 

ARRESTS

Eight individuals were arrested in PRISTINA within the past 24 hours. Five individuals were arrested for the illegal possession of firearms. One individual was arrested for murder. One individual was arrested for assaulting a police officer. One individual was arrested for aggravated assault and the possession of a firearm.

 

GNJILANE REGION

 

The following incidents occurred on 14 January

 

MURDER

On 14 January an 11-year-old Albanian female was reported missing in VITINA. Later, the body of the missing girl was found. The victim was brutally murdered. An American KFOR soldier has been detained during the investigation. (Contact KFOR Press)

 

The following incidents occurred on 15 January

 

INTIMIDATION

UNMIK Police received a report that a home occupied by an Albanian female had been damaged by five identified Albanian males. 14 windows were broken and the victim was threatened. This occurred in GNJILANE. (Contact UNMIK Police Regional Press)

 

ATTEMPTED KIDNAPPING

An intoxicated Albanian male in a VW Van attempted to kidnap three Albanian children in VITINA but they managed to escape. (Contact KFOR Press)

 

EXPLOSION

At 0320 hrs, an explosion occurred in an Orthodox church in CERNICA. No injuries were reported. EOD cleared the site. (Contact KFOR Press)

 

ARSON

An Albanian owned house was set on fire in VITINA.  A Serb claimed to be the owner of the house, but couldn’t provide the necessary documents. (Contact KFOR Press)

 

 

 

 

The following incidents occurred on 16 January

 

MURDER/DEMONSTRATION

At 1530 hrs, three Serb males, returning from Serbia to Kosovo, were stopped near the village of PASJANE and shot dead. No arrests were made. The investigation is in progress. Approximately 100 to 200 Serbs gathered in PARTES after hearing the news of the murders. No incidents were reported. (Contact KFOR Press)

 

ARSON

At 1945 hrs, a shop owned by an Albanian was set on fire in VITINA. No suspects were identified. The case is under investigation. (Contact KFOR Press)

 

ARRESTS

KFOR arrested 11 individuals for curfew violations and one for murder. UNMIK Police arrested 2 individuals for assault, two individuals were arrested for burglary and one individual was arrested for theft. All arrested suspects are Albanian with the exception of the murder suspect who is American.

 

PRIZREN REGION

 

The following event occurred on 15 January

 

FUNERAL

At 1000 hrs, approximately 1,500 Albanians participated in a funeral procession for the four murdered victims of the SKENDERI family in PRIZREN. The bodies were carried through PRIZREN and then transported by KFOR to JABLANICA  for the funeral. UNMIK Police escorted the procession in cooperation with KFOR MP. There were no reported incidents. (Contact UNMIK Police Regional Press)

 

The following incidents occurred on 16 January

 

GRENADE ATTACT

At 1815 hrs, a house belonging to a Serb female was the target of a rifle grenade attack in ORAHOVAC. There was damage to the walls, roof and windows of the house. There were no reported injuries. (Contact UNMIK Police Regional Press)

 

MITROVICA REGION

 

The following incidents occurred on 14 January

 

ASSAULT/THEFT

At 1730 hrs, an Albanian male was assaulted when 10 Serbs entered his flat, put him out of the flat and stole several items in northern MITROVICA. UNMIK police responded to the scene. (Contact UNMIK Police Regional Press)

 

ASSAULT

UNMIK Police received a report that several Serbs entered the apartment of an Albanian female and assaulted her and her mother in northern MITROVICA. No information was available in regards to injuries. (Contact UNMIK Police Regional Press)

 

ARMED ROBBERY

At 2150 hrs, UNMIK Police received a report that an Albanian male had his vehicle stopped by three unknown men who forced him to give them his money at gunpoint in southern MITROVICA. The suspects drove a VW Passat. (Contact UNMIK Police Regional Press)

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following incidents occurred on 15 January

 

ILLEGAL OCCUPATION

At 2000 hrs, UNMIK Police received a report that a Serbian family moved into the apartment of an Albanian female. UNMIK Police contacted UNHCR. (Contact UNMIK Police Regional Press)

 

WEAPONS CONFISCATION

At 1235 hrs, a shooting incident occurred in northern MITROVICA, on Kolasinska Street. A shooting incident occurred at this same location on 14 January. Both KFOR and UNMIK Police responded to the scene and searched several buildings. As a result of the searches, 2 rifles, one handgun, 2 grenades, 5 explosives and ammunition were seized. One Serb male was taken into custody and was being interviewed at the time of the report. (Contact UNMIK Police Regional Press)

 

The following incident occurred on 16 January

 

ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF WEAPONS

At 1330 hrs, KFOR arrested two Serb males who were in possession of an assault rifle, one grenade and ammunition in the village of MAJDEVO. (Contact KFOR Press)

 

PEC REGION

 

The following incident occurred on 15 January

 

MURDERS

Two Roma males were found shot in DAKOVICA. KFOR and UNMIK Police are conducting the investigation. No further information was available at the time of this report. (Contact KFOR Press)

 

The following incidents occurred on 16 January

 

THEFT

At 1530 hrs, KFOR reported an arrest of 4 Albanians, the suspects were arrested for stealing several items from a house owned by Romas in LJESANE. (Contact KFOR Press)

 

ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF WEAPONS

At 0100 hrs, KFOR confiscated a Zastava rifle and ammunition from two Albanian males in PEC. At 1400 hrs, KFOR confiscated 4 rifles, one handgun, two flak jackets, 2 NBC masks and ammunition in ZAJNOVO. (Contact KFOR Press)

 

UNEXPLODED ORDINANCE

At 0930 hrs, an Albanian male informed UNMIK Police that 2 grenades had been found near the village of M. KRUSEVO. KFOR EOD was informed. (Contact KFOR Press)

 

BORDER POLICE

 

NO REPORT RECEIVED FOR 15 OR 16 JANUARY DUE TO COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GENERAL KOSOVO INFORMATION

 

 

WEATHER

 

MONDAY 17 JANUARY

Overcast most of the day with intermittent snow. Winds light and variable. Minimum temperature –05 C, maximum temperature –01 C.

 

(To convert Celsius to Fahrenheit, multiply by 9, divide by 5 and then add 32.)

 

INCIDENT OVERVIEW OF CRIMES REPORTED TO UNMIK POLICE FOR 14,15, AND 16 JANUARY.

 

MURDER – 7

KIDNAPPING – 3 ATTEMPTED

ARSON – 3

INTIMIDATION – 4

SIMPLE ASSAULT – 5

ILLEGAL HOUSE OCCUPATION – 1

ROBBERY – 3

BURGLARY – 14

THEFT – 17

AUTO THEFT – 13

CRIMINAL DAMAGE – 6

SHOOTING/GUNFIRE – 2

ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF WEAPONS – 9

MISSING PERSONS – 2

TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS – 31

ARRESTS – 35