The March 2004 violence

Name: The March 2004 violence
Start: 2004-03-17
End: 2004-03-18

On 17–18 March 2004 riots spread across Kosovo, with attacks on Serb, Roma and Ashkali communities, Orthodox religious sites and UNMIK and KFOR property. According to the UN, 19 people died and 954 were injured.

DocumentedAfter June 1999PostwarCrimes

Editorial status: Awaiting verificationDrafted from the cited sources; not yet fully reviewed by the editors.

Key facts

Date: 17–18 March 2004
Place: Unknown
Sources: 3
Evidence status: Evidence status: Documented. Supported by contemporaneous documents, institutional reports or independent studies that corroborate one another.

Content warning

This material describes violence, death or loss. Read it when you are ready; you can close it at any time.

The UN Secretary-General described the onslaught by “Kosovo Albanian extremists” against Serb, Roma and Ashkali communities as an organised, widespread and targeted campaign. The UN counted about 730 minority houses and 36 religious and cultural sites damaged or destroyed; HRW at least 550 homes and 27 churches and monasteries burned; the HLC 23 dead. Of the 19 dead counted by the UN, 11 were Albanians and 8 Serbs [1] [2] [3].

Sources

Last reviewed: 16 September 2026

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