At least five Serbian police officers were injured, and at least 14 people were detained for attacks on police officers during protests on the night of August 15 in several Serbian cities, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Ivica Dacic announced. His words are reported by 021.
"I must say that such attacks on the police without any reason have not been recorded for many years", Dacic noted.
He emphasized that the largest protests took place in Novi Sad. Thus, in the city, protesters destroyed, looted and set fire to the premises of the Serbian Progressive Party (SPP). In addition, in Belgrade, there was a mass attack on the police in two places - in the area of the Serbian government building and in Novi Belgrade, Dačić noted.
President Aleksandar Vučić, for his part, announced the detention of four people and the injury of one law enforcement officer, RTS reports. In addition, the Serbian leader said that the protesters "destroyed" the building of the ruling party. Vučić stressed that none of its supporters were inside during the attack. The president noted that earlier the protesters "wanted to burn people alive".
During the protests on the night of August 14, more than 60 people were injured during the riots in Novi Sad, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced at the time. According to the president, about 1,695 people protested in Novi Sad, and over 3,000 in Belgrade and its surroundings.
The protests in Serbia began in November 2024 after a concrete canopy collapsed at the Novi Sad railway station, killing 16 people. Protesters blame corruption for the tragedy.
The protests intensified in late June after the deadline for an ultimatum given to Vučić by activists to resign and set a date for early parliamentary elections expired.
The Serbian Progressive Party (SPP) was founded in October 2008 by President Aleksandar Vučić and former President Tomislav Nikolić. It is the ruling party in Serbia.