Headlines
Kosovo Court Jails Three Men for 2023 Terror Attack Near Serbia's Border
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 24, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 24, 2026
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Kosovo’s Pristina court has sentenced three men over a 2023 Serb-led terror attack in Banjska near Serbia’s border. Two received life sentences, one received 30 years, in a case seen as an attempt to annex Serb-majority northern Kosovo to Serbia.
Kosovo Court Convicts Three Men Over 2023 Terror Attack Near Serbia Border
Convictions and Aftermath of the 2023 Northern Kosovo Attack
Details of the Court Ruling
PRISTINA, April 24 (Reuters) - A court in Pristina on Friday convicted three men on terrorism charges over a 2023 attack in northern Kosovo when Serb gunmen stormed a village and battled police in a shootout that killed four people, including a police officer.
The court sentenced Blagoje Spasojevic and Vladimir Tolic to life in prison and Dusan Maksimovic to 30 years in jail.
Judge's Statement on the Attack
"Through this well‑organized plan, and through the use of violence with heavy weaponry, 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," said Judge Ngadhnjim Arrni.
The Attack and Its Immediate Consequences
Three gunmen and a Kosovar police officer were killed in the shootout, while the rest of the assailants fled to Serbia on foot through hills, leaving behind cars loaded with weapons, ammunition and explosives.
More than 40 others are also part of the indictment, but remain at large, with Kosovo authorities saying they are hiding in Serbia.
Wider Implications and Political Reactions
The armed incident was the worst since the Balkan country declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Kosovo has accused Serbia of being behind the attack, claims that Belgrade denies.
"Now it remains for Serbia to be held accountable for its political, financial, and logistical role in this aggression," Kosovo Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla said after the verdict.
Key Figures and Ongoing Tensions
The leader of the group, Milan Radoicic, a former top Kosovo Serb politician, is among the accused. He lives in Serbia and has publicly admitted to taking part in the gun battle.
Serbia, which lost control over Kosovo after NATO bombing in 1999, does not recognise Pristina institutions and refuses to hand over its citizens to authorities there.
Some 50,000 Serbs who live in northern Kosovo also do not recognise Pristina's institutions and see Belgrade as their capital. They have often clashed with Kosovo police and international peacekeepers.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Fatos BytyciEditing by Rod Nickel)
Key Takeaways
- •The Basic Court in Pristina convicted two men of terrorism and violating constitutional order, sentencing them to life, and a third man to 30 years over the September 24, 2023 Banjska attack that killed a police officer and three gunmen. (apnews.com)
- •The attack involved heavily armed Serb militants who stormed Banjska, set up barricades in a monastery, and aimed to detach northern Serb-majority municipalities from Kosovo and unite them with Serbia. (en.wikipedia.org)
- •Kosovo alleges Serbia’s political, financial and logistical support for the attack, a claim Belgrade denies. Balkan tensions escalated, prompting Kosovo to seek increased NATO peacekeeper presence along the northern border. (rferl.org)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Kosovo court jails three men for 2023 terror attack near Serbia's border
1Who was convicted for the 2023 Kosovo terror attack?
Blagoje Spasojevic and Vladimir Tolic were sentenced to life, and Dusan Maksimovic received 30 years.
2What happened during the 2023 terror attack in northern Kosovo?
Serb gunmen stormed a village, clashed with police, and four people, including a police officer, were killed.
3How many suspects remain at large from the 2023 terror attack in Kosovo?
Over 40 additional suspects remain at large, believed to be hiding in Serbia.
4What is Kosovo’s accusation against Serbia regarding the attack?
Kosovo accuses Serbia of political, financial, and logistical involvement, which Serbia denies.
5Who is Milan Radoicic and what is his role in the Kosovo terror attack?
Milan Radoicic, a former Kosovo Serb politician, is the alleged group leader and has admitted involvement.
