Kosovo Police detain dozens of people at Gazimestan

Kosovo Police detained dozens of individuals at Gazimestan following the memorial service held to mark Vidovdan.

As worshippers were leaving the memorial complex, Kosovo Police officers singled out certain individuals and placed them in a small temporary holding facility, a Kosovo Online reporter at the scene reported.

Among those separated from the crowd was a father accompanied by his child, while several young women were also detained.

Members of the Kosovo Police's special units arrested one individual after uniformed officers had initially allowed him to pass through.

The detained individuals were subsequently placed into police vans and patrol vehicles and transported to a police station.

Police officers instructed the remaining attendees in Albanian to leave the memorial complex as quickly as possible.

Strong contingents of Kosovo Police special units were deployed at the entrance to the Gazimestan memorial complex.

No Serbian flags or national symbols were displayed during the Vidovdan commemoration at Gazimestan. However, attendees sang songs including "Oj, Kosovo, Kosovo," "Crven cvete," and "Vidovdan."

Prior to the memorial service, police searched worshippers entering the complex and distributed a written notice stating that they would not tolerate the display of symbols deemed to incite ethnic or religious hatred.