UNMIK
Police
19 JANUARY 2000
COMPILED
BY COMMISSIONERS PRESS OFFICE
BRUCE
LLOY
DMITRY
KAPORTSEV
SPOKESPERSONS
THE
GENERAL SITUATION IN THE MISSION AREA REMAINS STABLE
ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF WEAPONS
AT
1545 hrs, KFOR and UNMIK Police searched a flat in Dardania (Pristina) and
seized an AK-47 rifle and ammunition An Albanian male was arrested for the
illegal possession of the weapon.
At
0810 hrs, KFOR stopped a vehicle driven by an Albanian male in PRISTINA. A
search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of one hand grenade. A search of
his residence resulted in the seizure of two machine guns, ammunition and a KLA
uniform. The suspect was arrested.
(Contact
UNMIK Police Regional Press)
PUBLIC DISTURBANCE
AT
1855 hrs, KFOR was attempting to conduct a search of a house owned by Serbs in
UGLARE when approximately 70 Serbs surrounded them. KFOR fired two warning
shots in order to gain control of the situation. KFOR requested backup from
UNMIK Police. All available units from KOSOVO POLJE AND PRISTINA stations
responded to the scene. During the incident, an unknown person broke the rear
back light of an UNMIK Police vehicle. No other incidents were reported. KFOR
resumed their search with negative results. (Contact UNMIK Police Regional Press)
ARRESTS
Four
individuals were arrested in PRISTINA within the past 24 hours. Three
individuals were arrested for the illegal possession of weapons. One individual
was arrested for driving while impaired.
The following incidents occurred on 18 January
ASSAULT
At
1500 hrs, three Roma males were assaulted by five Romanian males in the village
of PLESHIN-DUBRAVA. The assailants were armed with axe handles. Extent of
injuries not reported. All suspects were detained. (Contact KFOR Press)
DEAD BODIES
At
2235 hrs, a restaurant owner (ethnicity not ascertained) reported that two
unidentified males informed him about two dead bodies seen by them in the
village of SURLANE. KFOR responded to the scene. The complainant already moved
the bodies from the crime scene in the trunk of his car. Ethnicity of victims
is believed to be Serbian but has not been confirmed. Cause of death was not
known at the time of this report. (Contact KFOR Press)
ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF WEAPON
At
1245 hrs, KFOR detained two individuals in VLADOVO when they were seen
transporting five mines on their tractor. (Contact KFOR Press)
ARSON
Two
Albanian males, arrested by UNMIK Police on 17 January, were charged with 10
counts of arson after admitting to setting fire to 10 different houses (mainly
owned by Serbs) in GNJILANE over a four month period from September 1999 to
January 2000. (Contact UNMIK Police Regional Press)
BURGLARY
The
two individuals charged with the arsons in the above mentioned incident were
also charged with two counts of burglary. The crimes were also committed
against Serbs. (Contact UNMIK Police Regional Press)
The following incidents occurred on 19 January
MISSING UN PERSONNEL
At
2030 hrs, OPS MHQ were informed by UN Mine Action Centre in PRISTINA that one patrol unit from the organization
is missing since 1300 hrs. The last location of the unit was the road between
SKOPJE and PRISTINA, south of UROSEVAC. The two missing officers are Michel
Dufor (Can.) and Jan Roberts (Swe.). The officers were driving a white Toyota
Land Cruiser marked Swedish Rescue Service and bearing registration plate PBH
428. (Contact UNMIK Press Office Government Building)
ARRESTS
Five
individuals were arrested in GNJILANE Region within the past 24 hours. KFOR
arrested two individuals for curfew violations. UNMIK Police arrested two
individuals for arson and burglary and one individual for assault. All the
arrested were Albanians.
The following incidents occurred on 18 January
ARSON
AT
0045 hrs, a Turkish male reported that his shoe shop was set on fire in
PRIZREN. A plastic fuel can containing a mixture of oil and gasoline was found
on the scene. The complainant was not able to give an estimate of the amount of
damage the fire caused. There were no reported injuries. UNMIK Police are
conducting the investigation. (Contact UNMIK Police Regional Press)
ARRESTS
Sixteen
individuals were arrested in PRIZREN within the past 24 hours. KFOR arrested 10
individuals for curfew violations. UNMIK Police arrested six individuals. One
individual was arrested for assault, issuing threats and rape. Five individuals
were arrested for theft.
The following incident occurred on 18 January
GRENADE ATTACK
At
2200 hrs, a Bosnian male reported that unidentified suspects threw a hand
grenade at his house in MITROVICA North. Minor damage to the property was
reported. No injuries were reported. (Contact UNMIK Police Regional Press)
The following incidents occurred on 19 January
GRIEVOUS
ASSAULT
At
1615 hrs in VUCITRN an Albanian male attacked another Albanian male with a
knife. The victim sustained injures and was taken to the hospital. The suspect
was arrested by UNMIK Police. (Contact UNMIK Police Regional Press)
DEMONSTRATION
At
0830 hrs, 250 Serbs protested in front of the court building in MITROVICA
North. They were protesting the appointment of Albanian judges, the laws and
court system. No incidents were reported. (Contact UNMIK Police Regional Press)
The following incidents occurred on 18 January
AUTO THEFT
At
2345 hrs, UNMIK Police in KLINA stopped a car driven by two Albanian males. The
car was determined to have been stolen from PEC. The suspects were detained and
the vehicle returned to its owner. (Contact KFOR Press)
INTIMIDATION
At
0900 hrs, an Albanian male in KLINA reported that unidentified suspects painted
a Serbian cross on his front door. An OSCE Human Rights officer was informed.
(Contact KFOR Press)
The following incident occurred on 19 January
CRIMINAL DAMAGE
AT
0800 hrs, an Albanian male reported that unidentified suspects threw some
stones through the windows of his shop in RADULOVAC causing damage to the
property. No suspects were identified. (Contact KFOR Press)
PRISTINA AIRPORT
The
Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs arrived at the Pristina Airport today. OSCE
announced that they would be flying out of Pristina Airport on Wednesdays and
Saturdays. 188 passengers arrived on incoming flights and there were 57
outgoing passengers.
GENERAL SITUATION AT THE BORDERS
All
border crossings are open. However, road conditions are hazardous due to snow
and ice. Snow chains are highly recommended. 1,224 persons crossed the borders
yesterday. 539 cars and 445 heavy vehicles not in KFOR convoys crossed. 5
vehicles and 25 pedestrians were denied entry to Kosovo.
WEATHER FORECAST
THURSDAY 20
JANUARY
Partly
cloudy with freezing fog patches clearing allowing some sunshine. Winds light
westerly. Minimum temperature 15 C, maximum +08 C.
FRIDAY 21 JANUARY
Partly
cloudy with freezing fog patches clearing allowing some sunshine. Becoming
cloudy later with snow during the evening. Winds light westerly. Minimum
temperature 10 C, maximum temperature +10 C.
SATURDAY 22 JANUARY
Bright
with some sunshine but becoming cloudy during the day. Rain overnight leading
to a general thaw of laying snow and the possibility of localized flooding.
Winds light south and southwesterly. Minimum temperature 02 C, maximum
temperature +12 C.
THE FOLLOWING INCIDENTS WERE REPORTED TO UNMIK POLICE DURING THE PERIOD COVERED BY THIS REPORT
ARSON 1
INTIMIDATION
4
GRIEVOUS
ASSAULT 1
SIMPLE ASSAULT
3
BURGLARY 15
THEFT 15
AUTO THEFT
13
CRIMINAL
DAMAGE 4
ILLEGAL
POSSESSION OF WEAPONS 4
UXO 1
DEAD BODIES
2
TRAFFIC
ACCIDENTS 15
ARRESTS 30