site.btaProsecutors Deny Use of Sonic Cannon at Mass Protest in Belgrade as Public Demands Independent Probe

Three days after the March 15 mass protest in Belgrade, the Public Prosecutor's Office of Serbia denied that "sonic cannon" was used against the demonstrators. The conclusion is based on reports from three ministries - of the interior, defence, and health - as well as a report from Serbia's Security Information Agency (BIA).

Based on the reports, it has been categorically established that none of the units involved in securing the protest heard, saw or used "sonic cannon," Serbian media quoted the Prosecutor's Office as saying.

The Prosecutor's Office also said it had launched an inquiry into claims from people who were present and reported hearing a "loud unusual sound around 7:11pm local time on March 15, which caused panic, people running, pushing and falling" among the crowd in Kralja Milana Street in Belgrade.

The statement also cited the Health Ministry's "definitive conclusion" that patients examined between March 15 and March 17 showed no clinical signs of acute acoustic trauma or other injuries caused by an intense, concentrated, high-frequency noise exceeding 100 decibels.

Despite these official conclusions, the Prosecutor's Office will continue investigating what caused the citizens' complaints during the mass demonstration

In the last three days, more than half a million people have signed a petition initiated by the Kreni-Promeni opposition movement, demanding that an independent international investigation establish whether a sonic cannon was used against the demonstrators on March 15.

Many of those present at the centre of the alleged attack on Saturday still share on social media that they experienced severe headaches, nausea and disorientation. Some of them sought help at healthcare facilities.

President Aleksandar Vucic, along with Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic, have denied repeatedly that the authorities used a sonic cannon against protesters on March 15.