The Basic Court of Pristina today issued a guilty verdict sentencing Blagoje Spasojevic and Vladimir Tolic to life imprisonment after finding them guilty of the terrorist attack in Banjska, Zvecan, which took place on September 24, 2023. Meanwhile, Dusan Maksimovic was sentenced to 30 years in prison. As a result of the attack, police sergeant Afrim Bunjaku was killed, while three others were injured.

The two defendants, Spasojevic and Tolic, were not present in the courtroom, while Dusan Maksimovic was present when the verdict was announced.

The presiding judge, Ngadhnjim Arrni, announced the sentences for the three defendants.

It is recalled that during the closing arguments in this trial, the case prosecutor, Naim Abazi, requested life imprisonment for all three defendants. Life sentences for Spasojevic, Tolic, and Maksimovic were also sought by the legal representatives of the police officers injured during the terrorist attack, as well as by the lawyer representing the family of Sergeant Afrim Bunjaku, who was killed on September 24, 2023.

At the beginning of the trial, Blagoje Spasojevic, Vladimir Tolic, and Dusan Maksimovic denied the charges brought against them by the Special Prosecution.

In Banjska, Zvecan, on September 24, 2023, the Kosovo Police faced a terrorist attack.

As a result of the attack, 50-year-old sergeant from Vushtrri, Afrim Bunjaku, was killed, while police officer Alban Rashiti was wounded and Clirim Shaqiri, Mirsad Kryeziu, and Sedat Dushi were injured.

Nearly a year after the attack, on September 11, the Special Prosecution filed an indictment in which Milan Radoicic was named among the main defendants as the leader of the group, and he had claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack.

According to the indictment, the accused committed the criminal offense of “committing a terrorist act” and the criminal offense of “serious crimes against the constitutional order and security of the Republic of Kosovo.” Some of them are also accused of financing the group and money laundering.

Last week, Stefan Radulovic, suspected of involvement in the terrorist attack in Banjska, Zvecan, was arrested.

For Milan Radoicic and the 40 other defendants in the case who remain fugitives, the Special Prosecution had requested a trial in absentia, but the Basic Court rejected the request as “unfounded.”

Serbia has still not extradited the Banjska criminals, despite repeated requests from local authorities and several international allies.