Eight arrested in Kosovo after canal explosion linked to terrorist act

On Friday evening, an explosion occurred in a canal in Kosovo that supplies water to the country's primary power plants. This incident was labeled by Kosovo's government as a 'terrorist act' allegedly carried out by Serbia. In response to the explosion, Kosovo's Interior Minister Xhelal Sveçla announced the arrest of eight individuals suspected of inciting, organizing, and executing this attack. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić strongly denied these accusations, dismissing them as baseless while tensions between the two nations escalated. The police reported that approximately 15 to 20 kilos of explosives were used in the attack, which prompted a rapid response from authorities, including raids on multiple locations and the confiscation of a large cache of weapons. Kosovo's security council convened for emergency talks, activating armed forces and increasing security measures around critical infrastructure. This explosion followed a series of violent attacks in the region, indicating rising tensions particularly in areas with a significant Serbian minority. Relations between Kosovo and Serbia have been strained since Kosovo declared independence in 2008, with Serbia refusing to recognize its sovereignty. The incident has further exacerbated these long-standing conflicts, highlighting the precariousness of peace in the region.