Kosovo Special Prosecutor’s Office Files Indictment over Ibër-Lepenc Canal Explosion

The Special Prosecutor’s Office of Kosovo has filed an indictment against three individuals for the explosion in the Ibër-Lepenc Canal on November 29, 2024.

According to the announcement, J.V., D.V., and I.D. are charged with:

endangering constitutional order by destroying or damaging public installations and equipment,

committing a terrorist act,

illegal possession of weapons,

and espionage.

The indictment states that J.V. and D.V., together with unknown individuals, placed approximately 20 kilograms of TNT inside the canal, which they later detonated using a bag attached to a concrete pillar. As a result, the canal’s structure was severely damaged, drinking water supply was interrupted, electricity production was endangered, and the Ibër-Lepenc enterprise suffered financial damage amounting to €376,774.70.

The Prosecutor’s Office also stated that J.V. is accused of espionage, as he had acted in favor of the Serbian Military Intelligence Service, collecting classified information and documents for use in illegal activities in Kosovo. The investigation was conducted in cooperation with European partners.

Following the explosion, authorities arrested dozens of suspects and seized weapons and explosives. The Viçentijeviq brothers, Dragisha and Jovan, were previously known as two of the three accused.

Kosovo authorities have classified the explosion as a terrorist act, while Serbia denied any involvement. After the incident, the United States stated that there was no evidence directly linking Belgrade to the explosion, emphasizing that the investigation was ongoing and involved FBI agents.

The Ibër-Lepenc Hydro-Economic Enterprise, which supplies water to several cities in Kosovo and provides cooling for the Kosovo Energy Corporation’s thermal power plants, is wholly owned by the Government of Kosovo./TheGeopost.