The Macedonian police forces had a shootout with an armed group near the village of Raduša, Macedonia (now North Macedonia), close to the Kosovo border, which was smuggling weapons. The Macedonian police recovered a large quantity of weapons and NLA uniforms in their vehicle.
| Raduša shootout | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Macedonian police | Armed group | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Gordana Jankuloska | Harun Aliu † | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
| Unknown special unit | Unknown | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Unknown | 4 men | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| None | 4 killed | ||||||
Background
editThe village of Raduša during the 2001 insurgency in Macedonia was the site of the Battle of Raduša between the Macedonian security forces and the National Liberation Army (NLA). The NLA was disarmed and disbanded after the conflict.[1] The town is located on a road that guards the water supply for the city of Skopje and the Kosovo border.
Weeks before the Macedonian police forces found several bunkers on the Kosovo border filled with weapons and ammunition including heavy weapons such as machine guns, RPGs, anti-tank mines, explosives and detonators, one bunker was found in the village of Blace, where Macedonian police was also fired upon by several men. It is unclear if there is a connection between the two events.[2][3][4]
Police action
editThe shootout occurred at 2 am on 11 May when members of a Macedonian special police unit were fired upon by the group after they refused to stop at the request of the police.[3][4][5] The armed men were operating a white van, smuggling weapons and explosives to Kosovo. None of the police officers were killed or wounded.[6] The Macedonian security forces found large quantities of weapons and explosives at the sight both old and new models, including TNT explosives, anti-tank mines, mortar rounds, grenades and uniforms and emblems of the NLA.[7]
Aftermath
editThree of the men were identified as local Albanians, including Harun Aliu, while one was a citizen from Kosovo and all of them were said by the police to have been previously involved in illegal activities. Aliu was the leader of the group,[8] a commander of the NLA during the conflict and was sentenced in absentia to life in prison for killing a police officer in 2008 in Skopje.[9][10] Albanian politicians from Macedonia refused to comment on the incident.[3] US Ambassador to Macedonia Philip Reeker expressed his support for the police action and defined the armed group as armed criminals who planned acts of violence against the citizens of Macedonia.[9]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Four killed as police in Macedonia stop truckload of arms". The Irish Times. 13 May 2010.
- ^ "Пронајден нов бункер со оружје кај Блаце" [A new weapons bunker was found at Blace]. Deutsche Welle (in Macedonian). Retrieved 16 October 2022.
Големо количество оружје, меѓу кое и тешки митралези, рачни фрлачи на гранати, противтенковски мини, експлозиви и детонатори, беа откриени и запленети и во акцијата што полицијата вчера ја спроведе во близина на Блаце. Во меѓувреме, косовските медиуми објавија дека полицијата во Косово веќе уапсила тројца луѓе за кои постои сомневање дека се вмешани во вчерашната престрелка со полицијата кај граничниот премин Блаце A large amount of weapons, including heavy machine guns, hand grenade launchers, anti-tank mines, explosives and detonators, were also discovered and seized in the operation that the police carried out yesterday near Blace. Meanwhile, Kosovo media reported that the police in Kosovo have already arrested three people who are suspected of being involved in yesterday's shootout with the police at the Blace border crossing.
- ^ a b c "Четворица убиени кај Радуша" [Four killed at Raduša]. Deutsche Welle (in Macedonian). Retrieved 16 October 2022.
Ова е втора акција на македонската полиција во рок од две недели. Неодамна, кај Блаце беше откриен бункер и земуница со големо количество оружје и униформи на УЧК. На прашањето на Дојче веле, дали има поврзаност меѓу овие екстремистичко-криминални групи, кои функционираат на северната граница кон Косово, министерката за внатрешни работи Гордана Јанкуловска одговори: Дали има поврзаност на претходниот со новиот случај? Пред две недели беше запленето големо количество оружје и униформи на УЧК „Во оваа фаза на истрагата ние не би оделе со поврзување, односно со јавно објавување на информациите околу поврзаноста и дејствувањето на овие екстремистички групи. This is the second action of the Macedonian police within two weeks. Recently, a bunker and a dugout with a large amount of weapons and uniforms of the UCK was discovered near Blace. When asked by Deutsche Welle if there is a connection between these extremist-criminal groups, which operate on the northern border with Kosovo, Minister of the Interior Gordana Jankulovska answered: Is there a connection between the previous one and the new case? Two weeks ago, a large quantity of weapons and uniforms of the UCK was seized "At this stage of the investigation, we would not proceed with a connection, that is, with a public release of information about the connection and activities of these extremist groups.
- ^ a b "Macedonian Police Kill Four Gunmen in Shootout". Balkan Insight. 12 May 2010.
- ^ "North Macedonia - May 2010". International Crisis Group. May 2010.
4 gunmen killed in 11 May shootout near Radusa when Macedonian police stopped van carrying arms across border; despite discovery of NLA insignia, NLA link not confirmed.
- ^ "Macedonian police kill four in shootout". B92. 5 December 2010. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
The sources added that there were no police officers injured in the armed clash.
- ^ Marusic, Sinisa Jakov (12 May 2010). "Macedonian Police Kill Four Gunmen in Shootout". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
Police officials say that the men killed were engaged in the illegal transportation of weapons from Kosovo to Macedonia, adding that the preliminary investigation shows that those killed were known to police previously for involvement in illegal activities. According to the police, the arms recovered in the incident varied from old to new. The police found TNT explosives, hand grenades, various mines, and mortar rounds. Uniforms and emblems of the National Liberation Army, NLA, were also found.
- ^ "Харун Алиу бил водач на шверцерската група". Makfax (in Macedonian). 13 May 2010.
- ^ a b "EU, US 'Support' for Macedonian Police Action". Balkan Insight. 13 May 2010.
- ^ "Monument to Harun Aliu - Commander Kushtrimi from NLA - erected in Nikushtak". Sloboden Pecat. 2021.