Three members of the security organs were killed in shootout in the police action in Kumanovo which is nearing its end and the last houses in the so-called area “Diva naselba” are being searched.
This information is reported by Kumanovo media, but there is still no official confirmation for it.
According to the same unofficial sources, ten people were injured and, allegedly, 30 terrorists surrendered to the police.
Meanwhile residents of Diva naselba in Kumanovo were evacuated and shots are occasionally heard in the settlement.
The approach to the settlement was closed, except for police vehicles and ambulances.
In the Clinical Centre in Skopje, where the entrance is forbidden for the media, 17 wounded were brought by helicopters and ambulances.
Armed police guarded the entrances to the surgical clinics.
The action in Kumanovo is undertaken for breaking a large well-armed and trained terrorist group that planned attacks on state institutions, said Deputy Minister of Interior Ivo Kotevski at today’s extraordinary press conference.
– After received operational information, this morning began action to break the larger terrorist group that planned attacks on state institutions. The group entered illegally from a neighboring country and took refuge through its supporters. The competent authorities at MOI failed to locate the houses in Kumanovo Diva naselba. It is a well-armed group which is trained to fight in these conditions. Based on earlier reports, an action plan was prepared and headquarters which coordinates activities in the field was established. This morning, around 5 am, special units have begun the implementation, in which they faced fierce attack from automatic weapons, grenades and sniper fire. It was reacted very carefully and appropriately to the situation to the attack. Due to the specific terrain – houses and narrow streets – police is progressing tactically and carries out searches in the surrounding houses – Kotevski said.
US Embassy, delegation of the European Union, OSCE, Russian Foreign Ministry and almost all political parties in Macedonia came out with reactions and call for sober reaction.
