Police use tear gas to disperse protest over deadly canopy collapse

Photo : AP

Protests erupted in Novi Sad, Serbia, on Tuesday after the collapse of a concrete canopy at the city's railway station last week, which resulted in the deaths of 14 people. In response to the tragedy, protesters threw flares and red paint at the City Hall building. The anger stemmed from the belief that the authorities were responsible for neglecting the safety of citizens. Police quickly intervened, firing tear gas canisters to disperse the crowds.

The protesters gathered in the city center, surrounding the City Hall and breaking windows. Despite appeals from protest organizers to remain peaceful, the crowd became more aggressive, throwing stones and other objects at the building. Special police forces were deployed to secure the City Hall, as tensions rose.

Serbia’s president, Aleksandar Vucic, defended the police’s actions, claiming they were showing restraint. He also warned against violent protests, stating that anyone involved in the unrest would face punishment. His remarks were made on X (formerly Twitter), where he further stated, "People of Serbia, please do not think violence is allowed."

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Opposition figures, such as Miran Pogacar, criticized the government's handling of the situation, stating that while broken windows could be repaired, 14 lives lost in the incident could never be returned. Pogacar emphasized that the people of Serbia were angry and that the country would not tolerate such neglect. Protest organizers expressed their desire to enter the City Hall building to present their demands, which included calling for justice for those responsible for the canopy's collapse.

Some protesters were seen wearing masks, and a few of them were believed to be soccer hooligans with ties to the populist government. Bojan Pajtic, an opposition politician, suggested that provocateurs were deliberately escalating the situation, a tactic previously used by the government to discredit opposition protests.

Before the protests turned violent, thousands of demonstrators had marched through the streets, initially gathering outside the railway station to hold a moment of silence for the victims. Organizers read out the names of the victims, and the crowd responded with chants, calling for the arrest of those responsible. Later, protesters hurled plastic bottles and bricks at the headquarters of Vucic’s Serbian Progressive Party. Red paint was smeared on posters of Vucic and Prime Minister Milos Vucevic, symbolizing the blood they believed was on their hands.

The protesters also removed Serbian national flags from the party headquarters, an act that provoked an angry response from Vucic. He condemned the removal of the flags, claiming that those responsible were attempting to undermine Serbia’s national symbols. In his own statement on X, Vucic said, "Our Serbian tri-color has been destroyed, hidden and removed by all those who do not love Serbia."

Later that evening, Vucic made an unexpected visit to Novi Sad, where he briefly addressed several hundred supporters gathered outside the party headquarters, reaffirming his stance on the protests and condemning the violence.

The disaster has been attributed to systemic corruption, lack of oversight, and inadequate construction practices during renovations at the railway station. The canopy, which was not part of the renovation, unexpectedly collapsed on those sitting below or walking nearby. Surveillance footage revealed the moment of the collapse, showing the canopy falling without warning onto the people.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, Serbia’s construction minister resigned amid growing pressure. Authorities have begun an investigation, questioning over 40 individuals linked to the incident. However, many Serbians are skeptical that justice will be served, citing concerns over the control the populist government holds over the judicial system and law enforcement.

The opposition parties behind Tuesday’s protest are also calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Vucevic and the release of all documentation related to the companies and individuals involved in the renovation work. The victims of the canopy collapse included a 6-year-old girl, and several others remain in serious condition. 

The renovation of the Novi Sad railway station, initially completed in 1964, had been carried out over the past few years. The station was reopened after significant renovations, which were inaugurated by Vucic and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The renovations were part of a broader project aimed at creating a fast train route between Belgrade and Budapest, yet the collapse of the canopy raises serious questions about the safety of such infrastructure and the accountability of those in charge.