A court in Kosovo has sentenced two Kosovo Serbs to life in prison and a third to 30 years for their role in a violent attack in September 2023 that left a police officer and three assailants dead. The incident, which involved a gun battle and a siege at a Serbian Orthodox monastery, was labeled a "terrorist" act by the court.
Vladimir Tolić and Blagoj Spasojević received life sentences, while Dušan Maksimović was handed a 30-year term. They were convicted of violating Kosovo's constitutional order and inciting terrorism. Prosecutors have charged 45 people in total, but most are believed to be in Serbia and unlikely to be extradited.
The so-called "Banjska incident" began when police responded to a lorry blockade on a bridge in the early hours of September 24. Around 30 armed men attacked officers with guns and grenades, killing Sergeant Afrim Bunjaku and injuring two others. The group then fled to the nearby 14th-century Serbian Orthodox monastery, forcing their way in and barricading themselves inside, terrifying a group of pilgrims from Novi Sad.
A day-long firefight ensued, resulting in the deaths of three attackers. By the time special forces took control of the monastery, the remaining members had escaped despite being surrounded. The self-proclaimed leader, Kosovo Serb politician Milan Radoičić, later emerged in Serbia, claiming he made all logistical preparations. He was questioned but not charged in Serbia and remains free, though an Interpol warrant restricts his travel.
Kosovo authorities accuse Serbia's government of orchestrating the attack, citing Radoičić's ties to the ruling Progressive Party. Prime Minister Albin Kurti alleged the attack was part of a Serbian plot to annex northern Kosovo. Relations between Belgrade and Pristina, already tense, have deteriorated further, with EU-mediated normalization talks stalled.
Kosovo's acting President Albulena Haxhiu hailed the verdict as proof that attacks on the country's security will not go unpunished. Interior Minister Xhelal Sveçla added, "It remains for Serbia to be held accountable for its political, financial and logistical role in this aggression."