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EU police officer killed in Kosovo | EU police officer killed in Kosovo |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A European Union police officer has been shot dead while on patrol in Kosovo, the first casualty since the EU took over security in 2008. | |
The Eulex mission condemned the "act of cowardly violence" and said a murder investigation had been launched. | |
It said two vehicles, carrying six staff members, came under fire in the Mitrovica area of northern Kosovo. The dead officer has not been named. | |
The town of Mitrovica is split between ethnic Serbs and Kosovo Albanians. | |
"At approximately 07:30 local time (05:30GMT), two vehicles carrying six staff members came under fire in the vicinity of Zvecan town," Eulex said. | "At approximately 07:30 local time (05:30GMT), two vehicles carrying six staff members came under fire in the vicinity of Zvecan town," Eulex said. |
"No effort will be spared in bringing the perpetrator to justice." | "No effort will be spared in bringing the perpetrator to justice." |
A spokeswoman for the EU mission, Irina Gudeljevic, told the BBC it was the first time a member of the Eulex force had been killed. | |
Tensions | Tensions |
The attack took place on the road between Mitrovica - 36km (22 miles) from Kosovo's self-declared capital, Pristina - and the town of Jarinje, Serbian news agency Tanjug reported. | |
Mitrovica hospital sources told Tanjug the victim had been admitted in an unconscious state with bullet wounds at about 08:00 (06:00 GMT). Doctors tried to revive him for an hour, but without success. | Mitrovica hospital sources told Tanjug the victim had been admitted in an unconscious state with bullet wounds at about 08:00 (06:00 GMT). Doctors tried to revive him for an hour, but without success. |
Vehicles from Eulex and local Kosovo police were deployed around the hospital. Police also restricted access to the area of the shooting. | |
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, and the Eulex mission took control of police, justice and customs services. | Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, and the Eulex mission took control of police, justice and customs services. |
Tensions have since persisted in northern Kosovo, which has a sizeable Serbian population. | Tensions have since persisted in northern Kosovo, which has a sizeable Serbian population. |
However, Kosovo and Serbia signed an EU-brokered deal on normalising relations in April this year, providing considerable autonomy to Serb-majority areas. | However, Kosovo and Serbia signed an EU-brokered deal on normalising relations in April this year, providing considerable autonomy to Serb-majority areas. |
Municipal elections are scheduled to take place in Kosovo on 3 November. | Municipal elections are scheduled to take place in Kosovo on 3 November. |