site.btaNovi Sad Protests Turn Violent After Roof Collapse Tragedy

During a protest in Novi Sad, Serbia's second-largest city, demonstrators broke windows and doors of the town hall, throwing bottles and firecrackers inside, Tanjug reported. Police used tear gas to prevent them from entering the building.

The protest on Tuesday evening was in response to the collapse of a concrete canopy at the city's railway station, which resulted in 14 deaths and left three people critically injured.

The Novi Sad Town Hall reported that the demonstrators threw excrement, red paint, and stones at the building, breaking several windows. They said they intended to enter the building to present their demands to the authorities.

Protesters demanded accountability for the tragedy and called for the resignation of Prime Minister Milos Vucevic and Novi Sad's mayor, Milan Djuric. They set a 48-hour deadline for their demands to be met.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic stated that the police showed "great restraint during the violent demonstrations" and indicated that all perpetrators from the protest would be punished.

Serbian Prime Minister Vucevic said the town hall building is as a symbol of the city and considered its vandalism an insult to Novi Sad residents. He accused the protesters of exploiting the tragedy for political gain.

Ana Brnabic, the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, expressed regret that the protest was not a peaceful memorial rally, emphasizing the need for unity in mourning the victims.

On Sunday, several hundred people in Belgrade protested in front of the Ministry of Construction, Transport, and Infrastructure, throwing red paint at the building. The following day, Construction, Transport, and Infrastructure Minister Goran Vesic resigned.