On Sunday, September 24, armed men in armored vehicles seized a monastery in the village of Banjska in northern Kosovo, inhabited by ethnic Serbs. The police laid siege to the monastery, one policeman and three attackers were killed in the shootout.

This was reported by Reuters.

According to the Kosovo police, a group of about 30 armed men in armoured vehicles entered the village, clashed with law enforcement agencies and then barricaded themselves in the monastery building.

The Raško-Prizren diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church, which includes Banjska, reported that men in an armored car broke into the territory of the monastery, forcing monks and pilgrims to lock themselves inside the church.

After several hours of siege and a shootout with the police, a group of intruders left the monastery.

The Prime Minister of the partially recognized Kosovo, Albin Kurti, and the Minister of Internal Affairs of the region, Kshelal Buryak, accused "criminals sponsored by Serbia" of the attack.

"They are professionals with military and police experience," Kurti said.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said at a press conference on Sunday evening that three Serbs were killed and two others were seriously injured as a result of clashes with the Kosovo police. "This is definitely one of the most difficult days for our country and our people," he said.

Vučić said that he would initiate a meeting of the National Security Council of Serbia after the incident in Kosovo.

Earlier, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, reporting on this incident, reported on one killed Kosovo policeman.