Serbia to keep Kosovo police official in 30-day detention

BELGRADE, Serbia – A Serbian court has ordered a senior Kosovo police official to be detained for 30 days to prevent him from fleeing after being arrested on suspicion of terrorism.

The arrest of Nehat Thaci, the head of Kosovo police for the northern town of Mitrovica, and Saturday’s ruling by the court in the southern city of Nis are signs of continuing tensions in the volatile Balkans.

Thaci was detained while crossing from Kosovo into Serbia Wednesday evening. Kosovo authorities have demanded an explanation.

Kosovo, a predominantly ethnic-Albanian former Serbian province, declared independence in 2008 following a 1998-99 war. Belgrade has refused to recognize the split, but has joined EU-backed talks on normalizing ties to advance membership efforts.

No details about the allegations against Thaci have been disclosed.

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community? Create a free account to comment on stories, ask questions, and join meaningful discussions on our new site.

Leave a Reply

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.