The explosion disrupted the water supply to Kosovo’s power plants. The prime minister blames Serbia

The explosion occurred on Friday around seven o’clock in the evening near the town of Zubin Potok. Its exact cause remains unclear. After Saturday’s emergency meeting, the Kosovo Security Council said it had activated the armed forces to prevent further similar attacks. “The Security Council approved additional measures to strengthen security around critical facilities and services such as bridges, power stations, antennas, lakes and canals,” it said in a statement.

At the same time, security in Kosovo has already been strengthened due to two attacks, when in the north of the country, where ethnic Serbs live, someone threw hand grenades at the police station and the town hall, reports Reuters. Prime Minister Kurti then blamed criminal elements from Serbia for Friday’s explosion, without providing evidence for it. Belgrade’s response that the explosion was caused by the Kosovo government was also unfounded.

“This attack was not carried out by ordinary criminals. This was done by a well-organized structure that knows very well that the disruption of the water flow in this location will also affect the production of electricity. The situation is very critical,” said the former executive director of the energy company KEK Arben Gjukaj.

A series of large pipes were placed at the site of the explosion to allow the water to escape the opening in the canal. Electricity supplies in the country apparently remained almost unchanged, but the explosion disrupted drinking water supplies in some areas of the country. Energy Minister Artane Rizvanolli said that she is working with an Albanian supplier to supply additional electricity, and water will be imported to the affected areas.

Ethnically predominantly Albanian, Kosovo officially seceded from Serbia in 2008 after almost a decade of guerrilla warfare. However, Belgrade never recognized its independence. The relations between the two parties are particularly strained in the north of Kosovo, where a large number of ethnic Serbs live, who do not recognize the statehood of Kosovo and still consider Belgrade as their capital.