Full Breakdown
Kosovo Court Convicts Three Serbs for Banjska Terror Attack
4/25/2026, 1:43:49 PM
Verdict and Sentences
On 24 September 2023 an armed group attacked a Kosovo police patrol in Banjska, killing sergeant Afrim Bunjaku. The Pristina Basic Court sentenced Blagoje Spasojevic and Vladimir Tolic to life imprisonment and Dusan Maksimovic to 30 years for terrorism and serious acts against Kosovo’s constitutional order.
Background and Alleged Serbian Role
Prosecutors said the attack was a Serbian-backed operation that entered Kosovo in armored vehicles with weapons and explosives. Attackers trained at Pasuljanske Livade in central Serbia and used mortar rounds and anti-tank rockets that passed through Serbian state centres in 2018-2021. The goal was to destabilise Kosovo and detach four Serb-majority northern municipalities for annexation to Serbia.
Official Reactions
Kosovo parliament speaker Albulena Haxhiu hailed the verdict as defending the constitutional order and urged extradition of “head terrorist Milan Radoicic and other terrorists”. Serbia’s Office for Kosovo called the sentences draconian and politically motivated, blaming Prime Minister Albin Kurti. Belgrade’s Higher Prosecutor’s Office says EULEX has not provided requested documentation.
Criticism & Opposition
Serbian officials claim the trial was driven by Pristina’s political agenda; Srpska Lista says evidence is insufficient. Lawyer Arianit Koci, representing the family of slain officer Afrim Bunjaku, praised the verdict but warned that “until the heads or organisers … are not brought to justice, this is halfway justice”. Serbia denies state involvement, saying attackers acted independently.
Data Summary
Attack killed one police officer and three gunmen; two attackers were injured. Court sentenced three men (life, life, 30 years). Indictment listed 44 individuals and one legal entity, with 45 initially charged. Weapons included mortar rounds, anti-tank rockets and 7.62×39 mm rifle ammo from the Belom factory; training took place at Pasuljanske Livade.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Kosovo blames Serbian state support; Serbia denies involvement, citing no direct orders. EULEX has not supplied the documentation Belgrade requested, leaving a gap in evidence. No extradition of Milan Radoicic has occurred, and the status of many indicted suspects remains unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
"This is a verdict for the defence of the constitutional order, which our hero Afrim Bunjaku fought for." — Albulena Haxhiu, Kosovo Parliament Speaker
"This (incident) was my biggest mistake in life … but I did not kill anyone." — Blagoje Spasojevic, Defendant
"until the heads or organisers [of the attack plot] are not brought to justice, this is halfway justice." — Arianit Koci, Lawyer for Bunjaku’s family
"they attempted to cut the northern part of Kosovo, namely the municipalities inhabited predominantly by Serbs, and to attach this part of the territory to Serbia." — Judge Ngadhnjim Arrni, Pristina Basic Court
What’s Next
Kosovo continues to seek Milan Radoicic’s extradition. Belgrade’s prosecutor says the investigation remains open and has asked EULEX for full documentation. Further prosecutions may follow, influencing Kosovo-Serbia dialogue and regional security.
