Two dead, twelve injured in Priština blast

An explosion killed two people and injured 12 when it tore through shops early on Monday in Pristina, officials say. The explosion that happened around 2:10 a.m. scattered glass and debris from a dozen shops on Pristina's Bill Clinton Boulevard. Part of a building collapsed, Reuters reported. Two dead, twelve injured in Pristina blast "The blast occurred in the business area in which some coffee shops and restaurants were still working," police spokesman Veton Elshani told AFP. One person was immediately killed, while another died of injuries in a hospital, Elshani said, addin that another 12 were being treated in hospital. "We still don't know what kind of explosive caused the blast as well as who was behind it," he said, adding that most of the victims were injured from a concrete block falling after the blast. Irish bomb disposal experts from KFOR were on the scene and police closed the street. "Police are not ruling out anything, but it seems it is more likely related to crime," said police spokesman Veton Elshani. DPA reported that Enver Sekiraqa, a prominent figure of the Pristina underground, owned a café and several other businesses in the shopping center that suffered most damage in the blast. Over the past month Sekiraqa has been unavailable to the police who named him as an accomplice in the murder of police officer Triumf Riza that had taken place on August 30 in Pristina. According to BIRN, after Riza’s murder police arrested at least four persons in Sekiraqa's café, which was closed down and put under surveillance. However, KPS officials confirmed for Balkan Insight that they stopped watching the place two days ago and that no police officers were present when the explosion happened. The explosion early this morning has generated reactions in Kosovo and beyond. Council of Europe secretary general Terry Davis voiced concerns about the deadly blast, which he said was "disturbing even if at this moment the origins of the explosion are not yet known." "We all hope that this incident will not turn out to be a terrorist attack," he said in a statement released today. "I am confident that the authorities of Kosovo are investigating the causes of the explosion as a matter of urgency. Meanwhile, we should not rush into any conclusions." Kosovo Prime Minister Agim Ceku condemned the attack. According to media reports, he demanded from the police to put maximum efforts towards clarifying the criminal act. “Kosovo’s institutions will not let any such acts question the stability of Kosovo. We will fight the crime and those hiding from the law will face justice sooner or later,” stressed Ceku. Aftermath of the explosion in Pristina's Bill Clinton Boulevard (Beta)

Two dead, twelve injured in Priština blast

"The blast occurred in the business area in which some coffee shops and restaurants were still working," police spokesman Veton Elshani told AFP.

One person was immediately killed, while another died of injuries in a hospital, Elshani said, addin that another 12 were being treated in hospital.

"We still don't know what kind of explosive caused the blast as well as who was behind it," he said, adding that most of the victims were injured from a concrete block falling after the blast.

Irish bomb disposal experts from KFOR were on the scene and police closed the street.

"Police are not ruling out anything, but it seems it is more likely related to crime," said police spokesman Veton Elshani.

DPA reported that Enver Sekiraqa, a prominent figure of the Priština underground, owned a café and several other businesses in the shopping center that suffered most damage in the blast.

Over the past month Sekiraqa has been unavailable to the police who named him as an accomplice in the murder of police officer Triumf Riza that had taken place on August 30 in Priština.

According to BIRN, after Riza’s murder police arrested at least four persons in Sekiraqa's café, which was closed down and put under surveillance.

However, KPS officials confirmed for Balkan Insight that they stopped watching the place two days ago and that no police officers were present when the explosion happened.

The explosion early this morning has generated reactions in Kosovo and beyond.

Council of Europe secretary general Terry Davis voiced concerns about the deadly blast, which he said was "disturbing even if at this moment the origins of the explosion are not yet known."

"We all hope that this incident will not turn out to be a terrorist attack," he said in a statement released today.

"I am confident that the authorities of Kosovo are investigating the causes of the explosion as a matter of urgency. Meanwhile, we should not rush into any conclusions."

Kosovo Prime Minister Agim Ceku condemned the attack. According to media reports, he demanded from the police to put maximum efforts towards clarifying the criminal act.

“Kosovo’s institutions will not let any such acts question the stability of Kosovo. We will fight the crime and those hiding from the law will face justice sooner or later,” stressed Ceku.