Three Serb police officers wounded in north Kosovo shooting

Their police car was fired at late Monday at around 10 p.m. during a routine patrol in the Banje residential area, the Kosovo police confirmed to the press.The police officers were shot in the back, the RTS reports.Policeman Oliver Kuzmanovic, 40, was seriously wounded and had to be operated on immediately at the health centre in North Kosovska Mitrovica.Health centre Deputy Director Zlatan Elek said that Kuzmanovic sustained serious injuries and exit wounds."He has two ribs on the right side of his ribcage broken. An exit wound caused by a firearm left him with injuries to the large and small intestine. The wounds have been taken care of and the patient's life is not in danger for the time being. He is in intensive care. We are hoping for a good outcome," Elek said.He said that policewoman Radojka Milic from Pec was hospitalised at the orthopaedic unit with shin injuries.Policeman Zivko Ivkovic "sustained minor injuries and was discharged for home treatment," Elek said.Office for KiM condemns wounding of three Serb officers.The Serbian government Office for Kosovo condemned the attack on Tuesday which left three Serb officers wounded in the village of Banje, northern part of the province, and called on the international community to ensure a safe life for all citizens.“We want individuals to be immediately found and punished who set up an ambush and shot at the vehicle carrying police officers, members of the Kosovo Police Service,” states the release.The Office for Kosovo underscored that it condemns every form of violence which constitutes jeopardy for the safety of citizens in the province, especially the attacks on authorities.“We demand the international community to ensure safe and peaceful life for all citizens in the province in keeping with its mandate,” states the release issued by the Serbian government office.Three Serb police officers were wounded in the village of Banje, municipality of Zubin Potok, late on Monday as their vehicle came under fire from the back as they were performing their regular duties.Police officer Oliver Kuzmanovic, 40, was gravely wounded as he suffered wounds to his chest and stomach and he was immediately submitted to surgery in the northern Kosovska Mitrovica Healthcare centre.Female officer Radojka Milic from Pec was taken to the orthopaedic ward with wounds to her left lower leg while officer Zivko Ivkovic suffered light body wounds and was sent to home treatment.North Kosovo authorities condemn attack on police officers.Officials of the four North Kosovo municipalities condemned on Tuesday in the strongest of terms late Monday's attack on three Serb police officers serving in the Kosovo Police Service.
In the wake of the attack, the mayors and presidents of municipal assemblies of Zubin Potok, Zvecan, Kosovska Mitrovica and Leposavic met with the head of the Kosovska Mitrovica district, the members of the Steering team and the North Kosovo police chief.They said that security issues related to the situation in the Zubin Potok municipality were discussed at the meeting.Eulex representatives were also invited to the meeting, but did not attend, citing unsuitability of the location and timing of the meeting, a statement said.Three Serb police officers were attacked late Monday around 10 p.m. in the Banje village in the Zubin Potok municipality. They were on routine duty when their police car was fired at from behind.Policeman Oliver Kuzmanovic, 40, was seriously wounded, sustaining injuries to his chest and abdomen, and had to be operated on immediately at the health centre in North Kosovska Mitrovica.Policewoman Radojka Milic from Pec was hospitalised at the orthopaedic unit with shin injuries, while policeman Zivko Ivkovic sustained minor injuries and was discharged for home treatment.