### Explosion in Kosovo: Prime Minister Albin Kurti Blames "Gangs Directed by Serbia"

An explosion on Friday wreaked havoc on a vital canal that supplies water to Kosovo's principal coal-fired power plants, with Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti pointing fingers at Serbia. He labeled the incident a "terrorist act" orchestrated by gangs under Serbian direction. Serbia has vehemently denied any involvement in the explosion.

"This is a criminal and terrorist attack aimed at damaging our critical infrastructure," Kurti declared during a press conference. He emphasized that the attack appeared professional, carried out by individuals directed by Serbia, although he did not provide further details.

The damaged canal is crucial, providing water necessary for cooling the two main power plants responsible for generating the majority of Kosovo's electricity. The Prime Minister warned that if the damage remains unfixed, parts of Kosovo might face power outages by Saturday morning.

Following the incident, Kosovo heightened security around its critical infrastructure. Prime Minister Kurti announced that several arrests had been made related to the explosion. "Law enforcement officials have collected testimony and evidence, and the criminals and terrorists will have to face justice and the law," he informed journalists at the explosion site. Later, Interior Minister Xelal Svecla reported that eight individuals had been apprehended, and a significant arsenal of weapons was seized during the investigation.

The explosion took place near the town of Zubin Potok in Kosovo's tense northern region. It has drawn international condemnation, including from the European Union's ambassador to Kosovo, Aivo Orav, who deplored the attack for depriving significant parts of Kosovo of their water supply. The US Embassy in Pristina also condemned the attack, expressing full support to the Kosovar government to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.

Tensions between Kosovo and Serbia have flared, especially after Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, a status that Serbia has yet to recognize. This incident is part of a recent series of violent events, including grenades being thrown at a police station and municipal building in northern Kosovo, an area predominantly inhabited by Serbians who still regard Belgrade as their capital.