Serbian Police Guards Albanian Embassy Ahead of Derby

Serbian police increased security measures around the Albanian embassy in Belgrade ahead of tonight's football match between two major clubs, Partizan and Crvena Zvezda.

The derby is expected to start at 7pm on Saturday evening.

"Due to the recent events in relation to the football match between Serbia and Albania it was our assessment that there was an increased security threat for the Albanian embassy in Belgrade," a police spokesperson told BIRN.

"Bearing in mind that there is a football match between Partizan and Zvezda, it was our assessment that the embassy could be a potential target for possible violence so we are doing everything to ensure that this does not happen."

Police added the situation around the embassy is currently calm and under control.

In previous days, Albanian businesses in Serbia have suffered a wave of attacks after tensions mounted following the disastrous Serbia-Albania football match earlier this week.

Three Albanian-owned bakeries were burned down in Serbia's second city of Novi Sad and the towns of Stara Pazova and Sombor, while several other shops were damaged in other areas.

The tensions in the country have spiked after the Albania-Serbia Euro 2016 qualifier on October 14. The match was abandoned after a series of incidents, including a drone bearing a map of Greater Albania being flown over the stadium

Fighting erupted on the pitch and some Albanian players were assaulted by Serbian fans who had invaded the field.