One Kosovo police officer killed and one wounded, raising tensions with Serbia

A Kosovo police officer guards the road near the village of Banjska, 55 kilometers (35 miles) north of the capital Pristina, northern Kosovo, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023. Prime Minister Albin Kurti on Sunday said one police officer was killed and another wounded in an attack he blamed on support from neighboring Serbia, increasing tensions between the two former war foes. (Dejan Simicevic/AP)

PRISTINA, Kosovo — Kosovo's prime minister on Sunday said one police officer was killed and another wounded in an attack he blamed on support from neighboring Serbia, increasing tensions between the two former war foes at a delicate moment in their European Union-facilitated dialogue to normalize ties.

Prime Minister Albin Kurti said "masked professionals armed with heavy weapons" opened fire on a police patrol in the village of Banjska, Leposavic, 55 kilometers (35 miles) north of the capital Pristina at 3 a.m. (01:00 GMT), killing one officer. Another officer was injured but his condition is not life-threatening.