Albanian Teen Arrested Again

The Associated Press
Thursday, Dec. 28, 2000; 9:16 p.m. EST

PRISTINA, Yugoslavia -- An ethnic Albanian teen-ager suspected of
killing of a Russian peacekeeper was re-arrested Thursday, exactly a
month after he escaped for the fifth time from jail.

Faton Hajrizi, 15, was nabbed in his northern hometown of Srbica, said
U.N. police spokesman Bikal Rajbahak. His frequent escapes prompted
officials to nickname him "Houdini," after the legendary magician escape
artist.

"A crowd of about 30 people tried to prevent the arrest, but was held
back by a warning shot fired by a police officer," Rajbahak said.

Hajrizi was first arrested for the killing of Russian Pvt. Igor Korshunov in
Sbrica in late March. He has been in custody off and on since.

Once Hajrizi broke his leg during a breakout. That didn't stop him from
trying again. A few weeks later, he crawled through a ventilation shaft
while wearing the leg cast.

The 31-year-old Russian was one of more than two dozen peacekeepers
to die in Kosovo since the NATO-led force arrived in June 1999, most
from natural causes, traffic wrecks and accidents clearing explosives.

© Copyright 2000 The Associated Press