New explosion in Kosovo, part of the country may be left without electricity and water

Late on the evening of 29 November, an explosion damaged a canal that supplies water to Kosovo's two main coal-fired power plants, Prime Minister Albin Kurti said, blaming a "terrorist attack" by neighbouring Serbia.
"If the damage is not repaired, part of Kosovo risks being without electricity in the morning," Kurti said at an emergency news conference, as quoted by the Albanian Post.
"Some towns could be left without drinking water. In our strong belief, there can be no other culprit than official Belgrade and its criminal structures," he added.
He gave no details on the extent of the damage to the canal, which runs from Kosovo's Serb-majority north to the capital Pristina and supplies drinking water.
The prime minister said this attack was carried out by "professionals with the aim of damaging Kosovo's critical infrastructure".
"We believe it comes from gangs led by Serbia. With these attacks, Serbia aims to instil fear," the Kosovo PM added.
"Such efforts will remain unsuccessful because constitutionality, the rule of law, order and our republic will not be defeated by anyone," Kurti stressed.
He said the reason Kosovo is facing these attacks is "the success of the country".
"Kosovo's success is fooling them," he added.
During the conference, Kurti stressed that Kosovo authorities have no information about a possible new attack, but added that the country should be prepared for anything.
"We have to prepare for everything because Serbia has not changed its position or its target. And we will do everything with the forces, capabilities and knowledge we have. We are in coordination with our partners," he added.
The Prime Minister also announced that he will meet the Commander of KFOR immediately after the conference.
The explosion, which erupted on the evening of 29 November in the village of Varaj in the municipality of Zubin Potok, damaged the Ibar-Lepenzi water canal, which supplies water to several towns in the country, as well as the Kosovo Energy Corporation for cooling its thermal power plants.
BGNES recalls that shortly before midnight on 28 November, a hand grenade was thrown in front of the administrative building of the municipality of Zvecan in northern Kosovo.
The deputy director of the Kosovo police in the north, Veton Elshani, said that no one was injured in the attack, but that the municipality building and four vehicles parked nearby were damaged.
On 26 November, two hand grenades were thrown into the courtyard of the police station in Zvecan. | BGNES