Pristina, Kosovo (Reuters) – An explosion on Friday night broken a canal in northern Kosovo supplying water to 2 coal-fired energy crops that generate just about all the nation’s electrical energy, Top Minister Albin Kurti mentioned, blaming what he known as “a terrorist act” by means of neighbouring Serbia.
There have been no instant stories of accidents and the reason for the blast, which additionally impacted consuming water provides, was once no longer transparent. Serbian officers didn’t reply to requests for remark, and Reuters discovered no instant proof of Belgrade’s involvement.
“It is a legal and terrorist assault with the purpose to wreck our important infrastructure,” Kurti mentioned in a televised deal with. He mentioned that probably the most nation may well be with out energy if the issue isn’t fastened by means of morning.
In an indication of ethnic tensions between the 2 Balkan nations, Kurti echoed Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani by means of blaming Serbian legal gangs with out offering evidence.
Previous on Friday, Kosovo police introduced higher safety features after two contemporary assaults the place hand grenades have been hurled at a police station and municipal development in northern Kosovo the place ethnic Serbians reside. It was once no longer transparent if the incidents have been related.
Native media confirmed footage of a part of the canal destroyed and leaking water and a heavy police presence on the website online.
Faruk Mujka, the pinnacle of water corporate Ibar-Lepenci, instructed native information portal Kallxo that an explosive tool was once thrown into the canal and broken the wall of a bridge.
He mentioned the water provide, which additionally feeds consuming water to the capital Pristina, should be halted to mend the issue once conceivable because it was once the primary channel for supplying Kosovo Power Company (KEK), the rustic’s primary energy supplier.
Independence for ethnic Albanian-majority Kosovo got here in 2008, virtually a decade after a guerrilla rebellion towards Serbian rule. Alternatively tensions persist, principally within the north the place the Serb minority refuses to recognise Kosovo’s statehood and nonetheless sees Belgrade as their capital.
The EU’s Kosovo ambassador, Aivo Orav, condemned the assault that he mentioned was once already “depriving substantial portions of Kosovo from water provide”.
