On the evening of February 16, 2025, just one day before the 17th anniversary of Kosovo’s Independence, conspiracy theorist Arianit Sllamniku took to Facebook to speculate about an alleged attack in the north.

“There is an attack in the north! Special police units are headed north… Let’s see how the event unfolds… We’ll be in touch!” Sllamniku wrote, without providing any evidence or credible sources to support his claim.

Sllamniku’s post received 147 reactions and 20 comments, with some expressing concern over his warning. Others, however, questioned his claim, demanding more evidence to support it.

Kosovo Police did not issue any statements regarding a possible attack in the north on February 16. Likewise, no credible media outlet in the country reported any such threat.

This type of disinformation, which exploits national celebrations like the Independence Anniversary, is often used to incite panic, fear, and uncertainty among citizens.

This is not the first time conspiracy theorist Sllamniku has speculated about various events. In the past, he has made baseless claims that NATO was planning to invade Serbia. On another occasion, he spread disinformation that former U.S. President Joe Biden had died and that the person appearing as president was actually his “twin.”

Conspiracy theories are hypotheses or beliefs suggesting that certain events or developments result from a secret plot orchestrated by a powerful and covert group. Such theories are typically not based on verified facts but rather on speculation, misinformation, and biased interpretations of events.

*This article is published as part of the Western Balkans Regional Initiative against disinformation. “Western Balkans Anti-Disinformation Hub: exposing malign influences through watchdog journalism.”