Nine injured in bomb blast in Kosovska Mitrovica

Nine injured in bomb blast in Kosovska Mitrovica

Eyewitnesses on the scene said an unknown individual simply approached the café and threw the bomb at the entrance.

Deputy Director of the Medical Centre in Kosovska Mitrovica Milan Ivanović told B92 that nine people with injuries from the blast were hospitalised tonight. He added that two people were discharged immediately after receiving first aid.

“Seven people have been kept for further treatment. The injuries were inflicted by shrapnel and one of the injured is an international policeman from Great Britain. The other six are civilians, two of them young women. One Dutch child-bearing woman was also hurt”, Ivanović said.

Kontakt Radio journalist Ivana Petronić told B92 that several hundred citizens gathered at the bridge that separates northern and southern Mitrovica right after the incident. „At one point the southern part of Mitrovica and the bridge were left without electricity, but this did not last too long. The bridge is currently occupied by KFOR and KPS forces, while the population in northern Mitrovica is calm“, Petronić said.

Member of the Belgrade team for negotiations Marko Jakšić announced he would demand to have the perpetrator of the bomb attack yesterday handed over to the Serbian police and judiciary, because the justice system formed by UNMIK was not producing any results.

“We will also demand the bridge over Ibar River closed down until the final status of Kosovo and Metohija is resolved. The bridge will be guarded by citizens who are self-organised”, Jakšić said.

Tadić: Punish the villains

Serbian President Boris Tadić harshly condemned the attack in northern Kosovska Mitrovica. “President Tadić views this bomb attack as a terrorist act and demands of the international community to urgently react and punish the perpetrators”, the press dispatch of the President’s Cabinet says.

The communiqué adds that Tadić had spoken to Kosovo Serb representatives Oliver Ivanović and Momir Kasalović last night, who informed him about the situation in Mitrovica and the health situation of people injured in the blast.

Tadić also spoke to UNMIK acting head Steven Shook. Shook has assured Tadić, according to the Cabinet dispatch, that KFOR and UNMIK would take all necessary measures to provide protection“.