Pristina, 02 June 2000
by Major Scott A. Slaten, KFOR Spokesman
Shooting Leaves One Dead, Two Injured
At approximately 2:15 p.m. yesterday in MNB East, one woman was killed and two men were injured southeast of the community of Trpeza on the road to Klokot as the result of a drive-by shooting.
The three victims were transported to the Camp Bondsteel Hospital for treatment where the woman was declared dead on arrival. The two men are being treated for their injuries.
Later, 15 to 20 Kosovar Serbs gathered peacefully in the vicinity of Klokot. KFOR located two possible suspect vehicles that met a description provided by witnesses. One was located in Urosevac/Ferizaj, the other in Trpeza.
UNMIK Police and KFOR are investigating. Further information will be provided, as it becomes available.
"These drive-by shootings demonstrate complete cowardice in the killing of unarmed civilians," said Brig. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, Commander of MNB (East). "Our sympathy goes to the families who have lost loved ones in these attacks."
Update on the Babin Most Shooting
On Wednesday evening, one man was killed in a shooting in the village of Babin Most, four kilometres north of Obilic. After the shooting the father of the victim drove his son to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) checkpoint in MNB North where the wounded man was transferred a medical evacuation vehicle. He later died as a result of his wounds.
The father of the slain man returned to the village and was seen shooting a pistol into the air. He was subsequently arrested and transported to Pristina. The uncle of the dead man was then identified as one of the agitators of the violent crowd that confronted KFOR and UNMIK authorities that attempted to investigate the crime.
During the riot, a Norwegian battalion crowd control dog bit the man. He was later treated in the Kosovo Polje hospital before being detained in Pristina.
The following morning a crowd of approximately 150 villagers assembled, demanding the return of the body and release of the two detained men. The MNB South Brigade Commander met with the crowd and as a result the two males were later released. The body was returned to the family that evening.
KFOR is continuing to commit energy and resources to providing protection and reassurance to the residents of Babin Most. The cooperation and support of the local people will only enhance our job of ensuring this operation is a success.
KFOR MNB Centre is providing full support to the investigation of this crime and the pursuit of its perpetrators. The Commander of MNB Centre is personally involved and has released the following statement condemning the killing.
Statement by Commander Multinational Brigade Centre
Brigadier Richard Shirreff Commander Multi National Brigade Centre stated last night, "I am outraged by the recent increase in violence within Kosovo and incidents within Multinational Brigade Centre, in particular the senseless killing of a young man in Babin Most on the night of 31 May. My soldiers and I are here to protect all of Kosovo's people and I will not allow this violence to go unpunished. Extra soldiers are being deployed to the affected areas and will deal severely with anyone engaging in violent or criminal activity.
Kosovo cannot squander its opportunity to develop into a democratic and peaceful place for all the people of Kosovo.
Kosovo must prove to the world that it can break free from the cycle of violence. It is time to take stock of all that has been achieved in the last year and to look ahead and work together for a better future free from hatred and retribution."
Boy Killed in Urosevac
Early this morning KFOR US soldiers from the 709th Military Police Company reported that a 17 year-old Kosovo Albanian boy was shot in the back and killed in the town of Urosevac. A Kosovo Albanian suspect has been located. UNMIK police are continuing to investigate the shooting.
Mine Strike
Two people were killed and three injured this morning in MNB Centre when a car in which they were riding struck a mine four kilometers southeast of Kosovo Polje. The injured were evacuated to a local hospital and are currently being treated. KFOR Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team and UNMIK police are investigating.
Explosion in Pasjane
An explosion in MNB East injured four persons last night in the town of Pasjane. A relative of the family reported the blast to a KFOR US patrol. A preliminary investigation reported that the elderly man stated he had thrown or detonated a homemade bomb in his own house.
Three casualties from the blast were medically evacuated to Camp Bondsteel and are listed as being in stable condition. The forth casualty was taken to Camp Monteith, treated for minor injuries and released.
A relative of the suspect led UNMIK Police to the attic where a AK-47 assault rifle, a pistol, grenade launcher adapter with grenades and small arms ammunition were discovered.
The investigation into the blast is still ongoing.
Incidents During the Past 24 Hours
Multinational Brigade North
Weapons Search
Yesterday morning, KFOR soldiers searched six houses near where a grenade
exploded Tuesday night. One automatic weapon and ammunition was found in
an Albanian home and one AK-47 assault rifle with ammunition was found
in a Serb home. The remained of the houses yielded nothing.
Multinational Brigade Centre
Weapons Cache Found
A KFOR MNB Centre patrol in the town of Dobotin last night found a box
of anti-tank rounds and two rifles. UNMIK Police and MNB Centre Finish
Battalion soldiers responded to the scene and continued the search of the
area.
One hour later, a larger cache of weapons and ammunition was discovered. The cache was covered in clothing and freshly dug soil. Several dangerous weapons were confiscated from this cache to include a Drogonov sniper and M-48 rifles with several hundred rounds of ammunition, two hand grenades and one rifle grenade.
Additionally, a crate with four M-80 light anti-tank weapon (LAW) rockets was discovered. Weapons intelligence search and research teams were dispatched to the scene for further investigation.
Grenade Accident
In Oblic last night a Kosovo Serb man was seriously injured in an accident
involving a hand grenade. Medical services and UNMIK Police were called
to the scene.
Multinational Brigade West
Men Arrested for Illegal Weapons
An Italian patrol from Task Force Aquila stopped a Opel Ascona yesterday
afternoon driven by a local Kosovo Albanian man. A pistol, six rounds of
ammunition and DM 6,000 were discovered during the search. A UNMIK Police
patrol handed he suspect over to KFOR Italian Military Police who arrested
him for Illegal possession of a weapon.
KFOR Italian Task Force Istrice carried out another search operation in the town of Zahac, seven kilometers east of Pec. A rifle with ammunition was discovered and a Kosovo Albanian man arrested for possession of an illegal weapon. He was then handed over to the custody of UNMIK Police.
Multinational Brigade South
Grenade Handed in by Local
A local civilian handed in a grenade yesterday afternoon to Military Police.
An Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team destroyed the grenade.
Multinational Brigade East
Weapons Seized
KFOR US soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment detained
a Kosovo Albanian man yesterday for carrying a pistol with an expired Weapons
Authorization Card (WAC) in the town of Vitina.
A search of the man's home revealed a 7.62 mm rifle and a homemade shotgun. The suspect was transported to the 1-187th Battalion headquarters for further questioning.