Serbia's populist president announces more arrests after a massive anti-government protest
Aleksandar Vucic, at a press conference, accused organizers of Saturday's student-led protest in the capital, Belgrade, of inciting violence and attacks on police, urging legal prosecution. He also criticized 'terrorists and those who tried to bring down the state,' singling out University of Belgrade's head dean, Vladan Djokic, who was among the protesters.
Tens of thousands of people attended the rally held after nearly eight months of persistent dissent, which has rattled Vucic's firm grip on power in the Balkan country. Protesters also declared the current populist government 'illegitimate' and laid the responsibility for any violence on the government.
Clashes with riot police erupted after the official part of the rally ended. Police used pepper spray, batons and shields while protesters threw rocks, bottles and other objects.
Police said on Sunday that 48 officers were injured while 22 protesters sought medical help. Out of 77 people detained, 38 remain in custody, most of whom are facing criminal charges, said Interior Minister Ivica Dacic.
'There will be more arrests,' Vucic said. 'Identification of all individuals is underway.'
The protests started after a renovated rail station canopy collapsed in November, killing 16 people. Many in Serbia blamed the tragedy in the northern city of Novi Sad on corruption-fueled negligence in state infrastructure projects.
Vucic has repeatedly rejected an immediate snap vote instead of the one planned for 2027.
'Serbia won. You cannot destroy Serbia with violence,' Vucic said Sunday. 'They consciously wanted to spur bloodshed. The time of accountability is coming.'
Critics say Vucic has become increasingly authoritarian since coming to power over a decade ago, stifling democratic freedoms while allowing corruption and organized crime to flourish. He has denied this.
Serbia is formally seeking European Union entry, but Vucic's government has nourished its relations with both Russia and China.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
7 minutes ago
- CBS News
Civilian Office of Police Accountability investigating shooting involving police officer on Southwest Side
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability is investigating a shooting involving a police officer on Sunday morning on the city's Southwest Side. The shooting happened in the 4800 block of South Bishop Street in the New City neighborhood. A large police presence is currently at the scene. Officers were also seen placing a number of evidence markers on the ground. It is unclear what led to the shooting or if anyone was injured. The office is asking anyone with information about the incident to call their office at 312-746-3609 or visit This is a developing story. CBS News will continue to update as information becomes available.
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ninja sword ban will 'impact limited number of situations', warns crime commissioner
A new ban on ninja swords 'will only have an impact in a limited number of situations', Thames Valley's police boss has warned. Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Barber has criticised the decision to ban ninja swords as he says most weapons used are 'normal household knives'. It comes after the Home Office introduced new legislation which came into force at the start of this month, meaning it is now illegal to possess, manufacture, import or sell ninja swords in England and Wales. Anyone caught in possession of this kind of weapon in private could face six months in prison, to be increased to two years under the forthcoming Crime and Policing Bill. READ MORE: Footballer drowned after getting into difficulty in River Thames, inquest hears Those caught with a ninja sword in a public place already face up to four years in jail. But Mr Barber warned that 'we should not lose sight of the fact that most weapons used by criminals are normal household knives'. In a statement issued on Saturday, August 2, he said: "Whilst this new ban will make a difference in providing the police with additional powers to remove these deadly weapons, we should not lose sight of the fact that most weapons used by criminals are normal household knives. "Dealing with individual types of weapons is helpful, but there is no substitute for a robust policing response and continued work to prevent people carrying knives in the first place. "The ban will undoubtedly assist the police in keeping our streets safe, but the new legislation will only have an impact in a limited number of situations. "We should be cautious of governments, of all shades, seeking to create the impression of action through announcements and bans, rather than applying a razor-sharp focus on tackling the root of the problem. READ MORE: Police step up patrols after 'drug use' in wooded area "In Thames Valley I have deliberately focussed our efforts on knife possession to ensure robust police enforcement and early intervention to prevent young people carrying weapons." The ban on ninja swords is the first part of the government's manifesto commitment to introduce Ronan's Law, and latest step under the pledge to halve knife crime in the next decade. It comes after at least a thousand deadly weapons were handed in following the country's largest weapons surrender scheme. A knife amnesty bin (Image: TVP) Launched in June, the Home Office developed this scheme with members of the Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime to provide a broader range of ways the public could surrender weapons outside of police stations. This saw Faron Paul, CEO of FazAmnesty, driving a custom built and fully secure surrender van, across London, Greater Manchester and the West Midlands, and Words4Weapons supplying 37 new surrender bins, all funded by the Home Office.
Fox News
38 minutes ago
- Fox News
Australian state rolls out machete ‘disposal bins' ahead of ban
An Australian state has asked citizens to surrender machetes at disposal bins ahead of a statewide ban on the weapons aimed at combating knife crime. Australia's state of Victoria on Thursday announced that more than 40 machete disposal bins will be available at police stations across the state to allow citizens to safely get rid of the weapons without a penalty before the Sept. 1 ban begins. "Owning, carrying, using, buying, or selling a machete without a valid exemption or approval will be a criminal offense," the Victorian government said in a statement. The government is running a "Machete Amnesty" period from Sept. 1 to Nov. 30 to support the safe disposal of machetes. Those who do not surrender their machetes during the amnesty period may face imprisonment of up to two years or a fine of more than $47,000 AUD ($31,725 U.S. dollars). "These knives destroy lives – so we're taking them off the streets," Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan said in a statement. Victoria police have seized a record number of illegal knives from the streets, averaging at least 44 knives a day, Sky News Australia reported. Minister for Police Anthony Carbines said the government is backing Victoria Police to get the weapons out of the hands of young people to keep citizens safe. "Our message to anyone with these weapons is simple – get rid of them or face the consequences," Carbines said in a statement. Exemptions for those who can possess a machete include agricultural workers who use them as part of their job, along with machetes that are used in a traditional, historical or cultural capacity, according to the government. Individuals exempt must comply with strict conditions and be able to demonstrate eligibility if asked by police. The Victoria government said it had already issued a temporary ban on the sale of machetes in May, resulting in Amazon removing the weapons for purchase from its website.
