Kosovo police arrest eight people over canal explosion blamed on Serbia

A canal in Varage, northern Kosovo, supplying water to two coal-fired power plants that generate nearly all of the country's electricity, was damaged in an explosion, on November 29, 2024 [Valdrin Xhemaj/Reuters]

Kosovo’s Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla says police have arrested eight people after an explosion hit a canal that sends water to its two main power plants, an incident Pristina labelled a “terrorist act” by neighbouring Serbia.

Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic denied what he said were “baseless accusations” about Belgrade’s involvement in the incident, which occurred at approximately 7pm (18:00 GMT) on Friday near the town of Zubin Potok in the troubled north of the country, some 16km (10 miles) from the border with Serbia.