The European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) said that it has increased its presence in north Kosovo because it believes the situation in this area is volatile.

We are closely monitoring the security situation in northern Kosovo through our increased presence on the ground. The Polish members of our Formed Police Unit and members of our Reserve Formed Police Units from the European Gendarmerie Force are conducting reconnaissance patrols, including patrols on foot in Mitrovica North and Zvecan, said EULEX.

Roads in north Kosovo and the Jarinje and Brnjak administrative border crossings have been blocked for 13 days because Serbs have erected barricades in protest over the arrest of former Kosovo police officer Dejan Pantic.

EULEX said Tuesday that, during its patrols in north Kosovo, it witnesses “a disturbing presence of armed men, often by masked individuals and groups,” and described the security situation in north Kosovo as disturbing and tense.