Serbian Police Eliminate Suspect in Fatal Shooting of Police Officer near Border with Bosnia-Herzegovina
On July 19, Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic announced that police had killed the suspect involved in the fatal shooting of a police officer near the western border with Bosnia-Herzegovina. The suspect, initially unnamed in the Serbian Interior Ministry's statement, was later identified as Faton Hajrizi, a recent prison escapee from Kosovo with a history of violent crimes. The operation involved a massive manhunt that spanned multiple countries and led to the elimination of the suspect in the vicinity of Loznica. Dacic described the deceased as an Albanian terrorist who had no intention of surrendering and had a history of multiple murders. The police response, which included helicopters, drones, and over 150 officers, focused on areas near the Drina River that marks the Serbian-Bosnian border. Serbian authorities collaborated with law enforcement in Bosnia, Croatia, and international institutions in Kosovo to track down the suspect. Kosovar authorities had issued a warrant for Hajrizi following his escape from Smrekonica prison, prompting calls for cooperation between the two regions. The shooting, which took place during a routine vehicle inspection, resulted in the death of a police officer and the injury of another. The incident raised tensions between Serbia and Kosovo, with both sides reacting to the tragic event. Further investigations revealed a complex web of connections, including the discovery of a Kosovar passport belonging to the suspect's brother at the crime scene, suggesting a premeditated nature to the attack. Additionally, the apprehension of the alleged driver of the vehicle, Zoran Radovanovic, shed light on a criminal network involved in drug smuggling. The unfolding events underscored the challenges of cross-border crime and the need for international cooperation in combating such threats.
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