UNMIK Police

DAILY PRESS UPDATE

 

THIS REPORT COVERS 24 HOURS AND HAS BEEN CONCLUDED AT

MIDNIGHT OF

20 JANUARY 2000

PRODUCED ON 21 JANUARY 2000 BY 1100 HOURS

 

COMPILED BY COMMISSIONERS PRESS OFFICE

BRUCE LLOY

DMITRY KAPORTSEV

SPOKESPERSONS

 

SECURITY OVERVIEW

 

THE GENERAL SITUATION IN THE MISSION AREA REMAINS STABLE.

 

PRISTINA REGION

 

ABDUCTION

At 0200 hrs, an Albanian male reported that while he, his brother and their neighbor were waiting for a taxi, a Ford Van occupied by four unknown males stopped beside them in Dardanija. The males in the van forced the three men to get into their car. While the complainant managed to escape, the two other victims were abducted but subsequently released. All the victims are Albanian. The suspects are still at large.

 

GRENADE ATTACK

At 2130 hrs, a grenade was thrown into a shop owned by an Albanian in the village of OBRIA (Grid: 820 197). The explosion created a large hole in the wall of the shop.

 

MISSING PERSON

An Albanian male reported that his 16 years old sister (Albanian) was missing since 19/01 in PRISTINA.

 

ARRESTS    

Two individuals were arrested in PRISTINA within the past 24 hours. One individual was arrested for intimidation/traffic accident. One individual was arrested for attempted murder. 

 

 

 

GNJILANE REGION

 

SHOOTING

At 0500 hrs, an Albanian male reported that an unidentified suspect in GNJILANE fired at him twice. No injuries reported. The case is under investigation.

 

MISSING UN PERSONNEL (UP-DATE)

According to KFOR sources, KFOR was contacted by the Serb authorities regarding the location of the two missing officers from UN Mine Action Centre. The officers were detained overnight in Bujanovac (Serbia) due to the fact that they didn’t have their passports when they crossed the border to Serbia. According to the source they will be subsequently released.

 

UXO

A tin can with 8 blasting caps was found in KABAS (Grid: EM 290 833). EOD was informed.

 

ARRESTS

KFOR arrested two Albanians for curfew violations.

 

 

 

 

PRIZREN REGION

 

ARSONS

·         At 1105 hrs, UNMIK Police were dispatched to a house fire on the main road to SUVA REKA (Grid: DM 787 737). The fire brigade extinguished the fire. There were no reported injuries. The owner of the house is unknown at present.

 

·         At 2002 hrs, the Fire Brigade reported a fire in the town of PRIZREN near the Turkish Bath (Grid: DM 787 732). The fire brigade extinguished the fire.

 

ARRESTS

Twenty-two individuals were arrested by KFOR for curfew violations in PRIZREN within the past 24 hours.

 

PUBLIC DISTURBANCE

At 1400 hrs, approximately 120 students from the secondary school ‘Gion Buzuku’ gathered in front of the Prizren UNMIK Police Station to protest for the release of a teacher (male Albanian) who had been detained for allegedly assaulting a female student. At 1435 hrs, the School Director convinced the students to return to the school.

 

 

MITROVICA REGION

 

GRENADE ATTACK

·         At 1220 hrs, an explosion occurred in MITROVICA North (Grid: DN 887 490). Two Serb juveniles (17-year-old) were injured and were taken to the hospital. One of the victims sustained serious injuries. According to the witnesses, four Albanian males approached the group of juveniles, playing basketball, and one of the Albanians threw a hand grenade. Two Albanian males were arrested by KFOR.

 

·         At 1730 hrs, a rocket was launched at an empty apartment, previously owned by an Albanian in MITROVICA North (Grid: DN 888 488). The rocket went through the windows on the 9th floor, causing an extensive damage to the apartment. No injuries were reported. The rocket launcher (RPG-16) was found at about 150 m from the building. No arrests were made.

 

INTIMIDATION

A complainant (ethnicity was not ascertained) reported the second time that a group of Serbs in MITROVICA North threatened him and threw stones in the garden. No injuries were reported.

 

THREATENING BEHAVIOR

An Albanian male (UN local staff) reported that he had been threatened by Romas in MITROVICA South (Grid: DN 892 486). The case is under investigation.

 

ILLEGAL HOUSE OCCUPATION

An Albanian female reported that a Serb family illegally occupied her flat in MITROVICA. The case is under investigation.

 

 

SUSPECTED MASS GRAVE

At 0900 hrs, an Albanian male reported a possible mass grave in SRBICA. Preliminary investigation revealed that the site had been rummaged through when a foul odor was detected from the ground beneath several layers of clothing. This site had been utilized by Serb forces during the offensive and was within the proximity of an old prison. The site may contain as many as 18 bodies.

 

DEMONSTRATION

At 0830 hrs, 100 Serbs protested in front of the court building in MITROVICA North against the judicial system. No incidents were reported.

 

ARRESTS

Three individuals were arrested in the region within the past 24 hours.

                                     

 

 

PEC REGION

 

ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF WEAPON

At 1230 hrs, KFOR performed a search operation in RZNIC (Grid: DN 46 07). Seven assault rifles with ammunition were confiscated. A KPC applicant was arrested.

 

ARRESTS

Six individuals were arrested: KFOR arrested two individuals for illegal possession of weapon and UNMIK Police arrested two individuals for intimidation, one  - for auto theft and one - for assault.

 

 

 

BORDER POLICE

 

PRISTINA AIRPORT

On 19/01/00 at 1600 hrs, a French Police Delegation under the leadership of Mrs. Helena THOMAS visited the Pristina Airport. The KFOR Deputy Detachment Commander advised the Delegation of the current situation at the airport. * 

 

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. *

 

GENERAL JANKOVIC BORDER

The Macedonian Border Police advised UNMIK Police that all individuals entering MACEDONIA with a UN travel document must have a passport, even if the passport is expired. *

 

Border Crossing Information

BORDER CROSSING POINT

STATUS (Open/Closed) working hours

TIME TO CROSS

DAY

NIGHT

D.JANKOVIC

Open 24 Hours

5

Minutes 

5

 Minutes

GLOBOCICA

Open 24 Hours

5 Minutes

5

Minutes

VRBNICA

Open 24 Hours

10

Minutes

10

Minutes

CAFA PRUSHIT

Open 24 Hours

4 Minutes

4

Minutes

 

 

GENERAL KOSOVO INFORMATION

 

WEATHER FORECAST

 

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 + 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 + 12 C.

 

 

 

The following incidents were reported by UNMIK Police during the period covered by this report:

 

INCIDENT

Recorded

cases

 

INCIDENT

Recorded cases

 

NEW MASS GRAVE SITES

1

ARSON

2

 

MISSING PERSON

1

THREAT/INTIMIDATION

8

 

DEAD BODIES

 

GRIEVOUS ASSAULT

 

 

TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

17

 SIMPLE ASSAULT

1

 

ARRESTS

36

EVICTION/ILLEGAL HOUSE OCCUPATION

2

 

 

 

ROBBERY

1

 

 

 

BURGLARY

7

 

 

 

THEFT

8

 

 

 

AUTO THEFT

7

 

 

 

CRIMINAL DAMAGE

1

 

 

 

LOOTING

 

 

 

 

RAPE

 

 

EXPLOSIONS

SHOOTING/GUNFIRE

2

 

UXO/MINE/GRENADE

4

BOMB THREATS

 

 

PEOPLE INJURED

2

ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF WEAPON

3

 

PEOPLE KILLED