KFOR: Our patrol accidentally entered the yard of a kindergarten in Leposavic

A KFOR patrol - Regional Command East from the USA performed an operational security duty and accidentally with their vehicles entered the parking area of a kindergarten in Leposavic. KFOR thus answered the question of Kosovo Online as to why KFOR members entered the yard of the kindergarten, and added that it happened when the KFOR patrol, while trying to reach the "recommended observation point", accidentally turned into the wrong street, which became a dead end.

"Since the road ended abruptly, they asked to enter the parking lot of a nearby kindergarten to turn around and go back the way they came. As there was the language barrier, the patrol could not communicate their innocent intentions to demand that the gate be opened for them to turn their vehicles. The accidental arrival and confusion lasted less than 10 minutes in total. Due to increased security as a consequence of the explosive device events from the previous day in the surrounding municipalities and the surrounding area, a soldier wearing body armor and carrying a rifle got out of the vehicle in the parking lot to assist the driver and prevented damage to a vehicle, property or vehicles around the school. Because of their inability to effectively communicate what they were doing, the kindergarten staff’s frightened perception scared some of the children in the kindergarten with," the statement said.

Because of that event, KFOR apologized for any misunderstandings and for disrupting the kindergarten activities.

"We want to reassure everybody that KFOR will always act to guarantee a safe environment for all citizens of Kosovo. The NATO-led KFOR mission remains always ready to provide any clarification and continues to act within the mandate received from the United Nations in Resolution 1244 of in 2009," the announcement states.