Fires and burglaries on the property of returnees in Kosovo (Serbian media)
Serbian media reported on fires and burglaries on the property of returnees in Kosovo. Belgrade-based daily Blic reported that in the village of Zac near Istok, parts of the forest were burned due to the fire that spread from surrounding fields. The daily added that attacks on the property of Serbian returnees in Kosovo were recorded in the village of Novake near Prizren.
The returnees in Zac told the Radio Television of Serbia that the damage of larger proportions was avoided because of the quick intervention of firefighters from the village.
Blic reported that this was the second time, in the last ten days, that the fire from the surrounding fields affected the forests of Serbian returnees in this village. In both cases, returnees reported the destruction of property to the police, which carried out the investigation.
In the village of Novake near Prizren, two days ago, three households were broken into. The damage was caused in the auxiliary facilities, reported Blic. The returnees sheltered the tools and machines into houses, taught by earlier incursions when thieves stolen all that was worth.
Belgrade based daily Politika reported that 282 ethnically motivated attacks happened in less than four years, citing the office for Kosovo and Metohija as a source.
The daily reported that the number of attacks on Serbs throughout Kosovo has been alarmingly increased in May this year.
"The data show disastrous statistics even before this wave of incidents started after Brussels gave Pristina a deadline of three months for the drafting of a statute on the basis of which the Community of Serb Municipalities would be formed", Politika reported.
Namely, in the Office for Kosovo and Metohija say for the daily that from October 1, 2014 to April 30, 2018, a total of 282 ethnically motivated attacks on Serbs were carried out.
The data of the Office show that 84 properties were damaged or destroyed, including 14 religious and Serbian cemeteries. 39 attacks on physical integrity have been committed, where 24 persons suffered serious injuries, nine suffered minor injuries, and six persons received an unspecified number of injuries. The office recorded also an attack on an official person. In less than four years there were 46 thefts, seven of them at religious buildings and Serbian cemeteries, there were five attempted abductions, and one attempted rape. Only 20 suspects were arrested and interrogated, and an arrest warrant was issued for 26 people.
According to the Office data, ten threatening and abusive messages were written at the expense of the Serbian community, seven of them at religious sites and cemeteries, and four cases of violation of the freedom of expression of religion were recorded. Five armed attacks on Serbs were recorded, and in three case attempted murder was made, according to the Office data.