U.S. soldiers' killer "further tarnishes Kosovo reputation"

A Kosovo Albanian, who killed two U.S. airmen outside Frankfurt International Airport on Wednesday afternoon, has been identified as Arid Uka. This is according to Albanian language media in Pristina. U.S. soldiers' killer "further tarnishes Kosovo reputation" Previously, the shooter was named as Arif Uka, originally from the village of Zabar near Kosovska Mitrovica. Daily Koha Ditore writes estimating that this attack "delivered a nasty blow to the already compromised reputation of Kosovo". "Kosovo has once again hit the headlines projecting a negative image now that Arid Uka, 21, from (Kosovska) Mitrovica is labeled as the main suspect for the murder of two U.S. airmen in Frankfurt," the daily says. After opening fire in a bus full of U.S. Air Force personnel, killing two airmen and wounding two others, Uka was arrested at one of the airport terminals. Kosovo's President Bedzet Pacolli and government expressed their regret and condemned the killings. "This crime is an individual deed, against civilized values and tradition of Kosovo's people, who will always be thankful to the U.S., American administration and people who have strongly backed Kosovo's people," the government in Pristina underlined. Meanwhile in Germany, Uka pleaded guilty during the first interrogation, Interior Minister for the state of Hesse Boris Rhein said in Weisbaden. According to early information, the man is an Islamic extremist. Rhein said it is possible that the Kosovo Albanian acted independently as no terrorist organization took responsibility for the incident so far. Warm ties The U.S. embassy in Pristina joined the government and people in Kosovo on Thursday in the condemnation of the Wednesday incident in Frankfurt, in which a 21-year old Kosovo Albanian murdered two U.S. soldiers and wounded another two, adding that the incident will not affect Pristina-Washington relations. An act carried out by an individual will not in any way affect the deep and lasting friendship between the U.S. and Kosovo or the warm and close ties between the two national and governments, the U.S. embassy in Pristina stated in its release.

U.S. soldiers' killer "further tarnishes Kosovo reputation"

Previously, the shooter was named as Arif Uka, originally from the village of Žabar near Kosovska Mitrovica.

Daily Koha Ditore writes estimating that this attack "delivered a nasty blow to the already compromised reputation of Kosovo".

"Kosovo has once again hit the headlines projecting a negative image now that Arid Uka, 21, from (Kosovska) Mitrovica is labeled as the main suspect for the murder of two U.S. airmen in Frankfurt," the daily says.

After opening fire in a bus full of U.S. Air Force personnel, killing two airmen and wounding two others, Uka was arrested at one of the airport terminals.

Kosovo's President Bedzet Pacolli and government expressed their regret and condemned the killings.

"This crime is an individual deed, against civilized values and tradition of Kosovo's people, who will always be thankful to the U.S., American administration and people who have strongly backed Kosovo's people," the government in Priština underlined.

Meanwhile in Germany, Uka pleaded guilty during the first interrogation, Interior Minister for the state of Hesse Boris Rhein said in Weisbaden. According to early information, the man is an Islamic extremist.

Rhein said it is possible that the Kosovo Albanian acted independently as no terrorist organization took responsibility for the incident so far.

Warm ties

The U.S. embassy in Pristina joined the government and people in Kosovo on Thursday in the condemnation of the Wednesday incident in Frankfurt, in which a 21-year old Kosovo Albanian murdered two U.S. soldiers and wounded another two, adding that the incident will not affect Priština-Washington relations.

An act carried out by an individual will not in any way affect the deep and lasting friendship between the U.S. and Kosovo or the warm and close ties between the two national and governments, the U.S. embassy in Pristina stated in its release.