BELGRADE, Serbia — The northern city of Novi Sad has seen ongoing clashes for the second consecutive day as police confronted opposition demonstrators demanding accountability following a tragic roof collapse at the city’s railway station earlier this month.
The protesters aimed to obstruct access to a courthouse, seeking justice for the incident that occurred on November 1, which resulted in the deaths of 15 individuals and left two others injured. Riot police intervened to disperse the gathering outside the courthouse, leading to heightened tensions in the area.
On the previous day, a similar demonstration resulted in a prolonged standoff, reflecting the growing unrest surrounding the roof collapse. This incident has sparked a series of protests against the current government, with activists calling for the arrest of those responsible. Many citizens attribute the accident to widespread corruption, which they believe resulted in poor renovation work at the station.
On Wednesday, some opposition lawmakers managed to enter the courthouse as police continued to push back other protesters. The demonstrators are also pressing for the release of activists detained during the protests linked to the roof collapse.
The catastrophic event involved a massive concrete roof of the railway station that suddenly collapsed, striking individuals seated on benches and those standing nearby. Initially, 14 people lost their lives, and three sustained serious injuries; however, one of the injured victims succumbed on Sunday, raising the death toll to 15.
Officials have committed to a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, resulting in the resignation of the country’s construction minister, Goran Vesic. Populist President Aleksandar Vucic has indicated that more resignations may soon occur as scrutiny intensifies.
Despite the gravity of the situation, there have been no arrests or formal charges made at this point. However, authorities have mentioned that numerous individuals have been questioned as part of the investigation into the collapse.
The railway station, which opened its doors in 1964, has undergone two renovations in recent years, financed by agreements with Chinese state construction firms.