An explosion that went off last night damaged a canal in northern Kosovo, supplying water to two coal-fired power plants operating that generate almost all of the country's electricity, Prime Minister Albin Kurti said, blaming what he called a "terrorist act" neighboring Serbia, reported Reuters, quoted by BTA.
There were no immediate reports of injuries or the cause of the explosion, which also affected drinking water supplies.
Serbian authorities did not respond to requests for comment, and Reuters found no immediate evidence that Belgrade was involved.
„This is a criminal and terrorist attack aimed at destroying our critical infrastructure," Kurti said in a televised address. He said that part of the country could remain without power if the problem is not fixed by morning.
As an expression of the ethnic tension between the two Balkan countries, Kurti echoed the thesis of Kosovo President Vjesa Osmani, blaming Serbian criminal gangs for the explosion without providing evidence.
Earlier yesterday, Kosovo police announced increased security measures following two recent hand grenade attacks on a police station and a municipal building in northern Kosovo, where ethnic Serbs live. It was not clear whether the incidents were related.
Local media showed pictures of part of the destroyed canal and leaking water, as well as an increased police presence at the scene.
The head of the water company “Iber-Lepenci“ Farouk Mujka told local news portal Kallxo that an explosive device was thrown into the canal and damaged the wall of a bridge.
He said the drinking water supply to the capital Prishtina should be stopped to solve the problem as soon as possible, as it is the main supply channel for the Kosovo Energy Corporation (KEK), the main electricity supplier. in the country.
Kosovo, where the majority of the population is ethnic Albanian, gained independence in 2008, almost a decade after a rebellion against Serbian rule. However, tensions continue, mainly in the northern regions, where the Serbian minority refuses to recognize Kosovo's statehood and still considers Belgrade its capital.
The EU ambassador to Kosovo, Ivo Orav, condemned the attack, which he said had already “deprived significant parts of Kosovo of its water supply”.