Wrote: Fatbardh Dema
Serbian language channel on Telegram "BUNKER"(BUNKER) on March 6th published a claim that Kosovo authorities had arrested minor children without any reason and without informing their parents. This claim was later shared on the social network X (formerly Twitter) by a ACCOUNT in the Serbian language.
However, after verification by hibrid.info, it was found that this information is false.
Hibrid.info has found the article published by the Serbian-language media outlet "Kossev.info", which was the first to report on this event.
The article in this media outlet clarifies that six minors, four Serbs and two Albanians, were arrested on Thursday evening (March 6) in the northern part of Mitrovica, under suspicion that they had a conflict with each other. (see here)
Also, the Kosovo Police, contacted by this media outlet, said that "Since we are talking about minors, we are currently awaiting statements from their parents about the incident, in order to learn more about it."
"There are six people at the station, 4 Serbs and 2 Albanians, all minors (15,16 years old). They will give statements, but they are waiting for their parents and the social worker to arrive. For now, we only suspect that they had a conflict, we do not know if it was just verbal or physical. We will know this after their statements," said the head of the Kosovo Police Operational Unit for the northern region, Petrit Fejza.
Later, in the updated Kossev.info article, it was clarified that there had been an error regarding the nationality of some of these people.
Meanwhile, three boys of Serbian nationality have been released. Petrit Fejza from the Police for the Northern Region confirmed to us that there was a mistake, so four Serbs were not arrested. Currently, one Bosnian and two Albanians are at the station.
Also, in the 24-hour report of the Kosovo Police, this incident was described as "MINOR BODILY INJURY".
Analyze:
On March 6, the Serbian Telegram channel “БУНКЕР” (BUNKER) and an account on X (formerly Twitter) shared a false claim that Kosovo authorities had arrested minor children without reason and without notifying their parents.
According to hibrid.info and the Serbian media outlet “Kossev.info”, six minors (initially reported as four Serbs and two Albanians) were arrested in North Mitrovica due to a conflict between them. Later, the Kosovo Police clarified that only one Bosniak and two Albanians remained at the station, while three Serbs were released. The case was described as “light bodily injury”.
Based on its work methodology, hibrid.info assesses this claim as "Disinformation".
Reasoning:
"Disinformation" is defined as information content that contains a "mix" of inaccurate sources or even half-truthful attributes, and that is created and/or distributed with the deliberate intention of causing harm. The motive behind the producers/distributors of disinformation content lies in achieving a political, financial, psychological or social goal.