Protesters from all over Serbia were marching in Belgrade on Saturday as the government struggles to stem the monthslong outrage over the deadly fall of the Novi Sad railway station canopy in November.
Gatherings were being held in multiple locations in the Serbian capital. Farmers, bikers, military veterans and other groups joined the demonstrations, with approach routes to key sites clogged by large crowds.
“In front of the parliament there is already a large number of people, and we have seen several processions by bikers and tractor drivers,” DW correspondent Sanja Klajic reported from the scene.
To follow DW’s live blog on the Belgrade protests in Serbian, click here.
NGO says rally likely ‘biggest in Belgrade’s history’
The number of participants was not immediately clear. The Interior Ministry estimated around 107,000 protesters, although some independent media give a much higher number in what is likely the largest protest at least since the ouster of autocrat Slobodan Milosevic in 2000.
Huge crowds join anti-government rally in Belgrade
Serbian NGO Arhiv javnih skupova, which specializes in counting protesters at various events, gave a much higher estimate, saying that between 275,000 and 325,000 attended the event.
“Everything indicates this is the biggest rally in Belgrade’s history,” they said in an online post.
They also published videos from downtown Belgrade showing immense crowds.
Unexplained noise startles protesters during solemn silence
At least one person was severely injured after being beaten by several people during protests, though circumstances remain unclear.
Also an unexplained loud noise, similar to an incoming projectile or a falling aircraft, was heard during 15-minute silence honoring 15 victims of the Novi Sad tragedy, startling the crowd and causing protesters to briefly flee one of Belgrade’s streets.
While the origin of the noise remains unclear, independent news outlet N1 quoted military analyst Aleksandar Radic as saying that the sound was caused by an acoustic weapon. Radic described it as a “sonic cannon,” which is part of the arsenal available to the Serbian security services. An opposition lawmaker made a similar claim about the source of the noise, N1 reported.
“The only goal of this act is a brutal demonstration of force, a proof of arrogance, motivated by the hatred towards one’s own people,” Radic told N1.
However, the police soon denied using the sonic cannon, saying that this action “would not have been in accordance with the law.”
What are the protests about?
The Saturday march is seen as a culmination of a monthslong protest movement spearheaded by Serbian students. The protesters are demanding accountability for the deaths of 15 people in Novi Sad who were killed by falling rubble as the outdoor roof section of a train station caved in on them. The train station had been recently renovated under murky circumstances, with the involvement of Chinese companies and businesses with alleged ties to the ruling Progressive Party (SNS).
Serbian officials initially claimed no work had been done on the canopy, but later admitted this part of the building was also altered during the reconstruction.
Serbia: Anger mounts after fatal train station roof collapse
The protesters accuse the government of withholding key documents linked to the renovation effort. The government, led by strongman President Aleksandar Vucic, insists all necessary papers have already been made public.
In a wider sense, the movement has also encapsulated a whole range of complaints against Vucic and his government, including allegations of widespread corruption, nepotism, mismanaging natural resources, voter fraud, media control and muddled responses to previous deadly incidents linked to government officials.
Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic and Novi Sad mayor Milan Djuric have already resigned amid protests.
What did Vucic say?
Commenting on the protests on Saturday evening, Vucic said 56 people were injured and 22 detained during the protest on suspicion of vandalism and assault, but no one sustained life-threatening injuries.
He said the protest carried “a huge negative energy, anger and rage directed towards the authorities.”
“We did not raise the nightstick today,” he told reporters during a press conference.
His tone seemed to be more conciliatory than in recent days, when he warned of possible violence and repeated his claims that Western intelligence services were behind the unrest.
“I won’t allow the street to set the rules,” he said on Friday.
Days ahead of the Saturday march, Vucic warned that officials will “arrest all troublemakers.”
“We have a state and we will show you the state,” he said.
Rally ends without major clashes
Thousands of students and other participants arrived in Belgrade on Friday evening amid fears that the government would attempt to block transport links to the city. On Saturday, police blocked a major bridge and public transport was suspended.
Serbia’s protesting students, teachers remain defiant
Still, as of Saturday evening, there were no reports of a large-scale police clampdown against protesters, or major clashes between anti-government protesters and mysterious masked men whom the protesters believe are associated with the government.
Vucic, who became the country’s undisputed political leader in 2014, is considered a nationalist but has pursued a carefully balanced foreign policy and boasts close working relationships with the US and the EU, as well as with Moscow and Beijing.
Edited by: Saim Dušan Inayatullah