Three Kosovo Serbs jailed over deadly gun battle and monastery siege

The authorities in Pristina maintain that Serbia's government in Belgrade was ultimately responsible, though it is still far from clear what the armed group actually hoped to achieve.Kosovo government / handout via ReutersDuring the 2023 Attack, one of the armed men was seen approaching a priest inside the Serbian Orthodox monastery in BanjskaThe shooting started when police responded to a lorry blockade set up on a bridge in the early hours of Sunday 24 September. Kosovo authorities said that a group of about 30 men attacked the officers with guns and grenades. Sgt Afrim Bunjaku was killed, while two of his colleagues were injured.The armed group then retreated to the nearby 14th century Serbian Orthodox monastery, forced their way in and barricaded themselves inside, much to the alarm of a group of pilgrims from Serbia's second city, Novi Sad. Shooting continued throughout the day, resulting in the deaths of three members of the armed group.But by the time Kosovo-police" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="120601" data-entity-type="organization">Kosovo Police's special forces took control of the monastery in late afternoon, the surviving group members had somehow slipped away despite being, to all intents and purposes, surrounded.