Five arrested in Kosovo war crimes case linked to Racak massacre

Kosovo police have arrested five people in a war crimes case linked to the 1999 Racak massacre, one of the killings that helped trigger NATO’s intervention in the Kosovo war.

The Special Prosecution said the arrests were made on Sunday during a joint operation with police. Searches were also carried out at several locations.

Authorities have not yet named the suspects or detailed the allegations against them.

The case, known as “Racak II”, concerns suspected crimes against civilians during the 1998-99 war.

Prosecutors had earlier indicted 21 people in absentia over the massacre in Racak on 15 January 1999, when 42 Albanian civilians were killed.

More than 13,000 civilians were killed during the war. More than 1,500 people are still missing.