The Director General of the Kosovo Police, Gazmend Hoxha, has stated that members of Serbia’s military intelligence service (VBA) were involved in the explosion that occurred on November 29, 2024, at the Ibër-Lepenc canal in the village of Varagë, Zubin Potok municipality.
According to Hoxha, one of the three individuals arrested in connection with the attack was found in possession of official documents confirming his affiliation with Serbia’s military intelligence.
“One of the arrested persons was found with a document proving that he had been a member of Serbia’s military intelligence,” Hoxha said.
He emphasized that substantial evidence has been collected from the scene, examined by both local and international experts, indicating that the suspects carried out the act under instructions from Serbian intelligence structures, classifying the incident as a terrorist act.
Hoxha further revealed that equipment seized from the suspects’ residences was initially analyzed by the Kosovo Police and subsequently sent to the FBI laboratory in the United States for advanced forensic testing.
“The analyses confirmed that the soil found on these devices matches the crime scene, directly linking the suspects to the attack,” Hoxha stated.
In addition to the Ibër-Lepenc case, the Kosovo Police chief addressed the overall security situation in northern Kosovo, highlighting efforts to combat illegal weapons and organized crime.
According to the Kosovo Police annual report, 2025 recorded a decline in criminal offenses, particularly in cases of theft and robbery, which Hoxha described as a result of enhanced policing operations and institutional cooperation.
Authorities have reiterated their commitment to continuing investigations and ensuring that all individuals involved in acts that threaten public safety and national security are brought to justice.
