BELGRADE, Serbia — The Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra reported that four of its musicians sustained injuries during an incident related to a traffic blockade held in memory of the victims of a recent tragedy. The blockade took place on Friday as part of a weekly event to honor the 15 individuals who lost their lives when a concrete canopy collapsed at a railway station in Novi Sad last month.

These traffic blockades have become a regular occurrence every Friday in various cities across Serbia since the unfortunate incident that took place on November 1. In addition to the blockade in Belgrade, hundreds gathered in locations nationwide to observe a moment of silence and demand accountability for the fatalities.

On Friday, some musicians from the Belgrade Philharmonic participated in a blockade at a pedestrian crossing close to their workplace. According to a statement from the orchestra, a driver ignored the protest and drove through the gathering, resulting in injuries to several musicians.

Reports from Serbian media indicated that a 67-year-old man from Kikinda was taken into custody by the police following this incident. The affected musicians received prompt medical attention afterward.

The Belgrade Philharmonic condemned the act of violence against its members while they were peacefully expressing their civic views and subsequently canceled a concert that was scheduled for that evening.

In recent days, university students across Serbia have also participated in the protests, instituting 24-hour blockades at their campuses. On Friday, numerous students actively engaged in stopping traffic on major roads in Belgrade and other cities.

Previous protests over the past few weeks have encountered disruptions from pro-government supporters, leading to several instances of violence during the demonstrations.

Construction at the railway station in Novi Sad had undergone renovations on two occasions in recent years. Many citizens hold the belief that systemic corruption and lack of oversight led to poor construction practices, eventually resulting in the deadly canopy collapse.

While prosecutors have reported the arrest of 13 individuals connected to the incident, a Serbian court has recently released former construction minister Goran Vesic from detention. This decision has sparked considerable skepticism regarding the integrity of the ongoing investigation, which is perceived to be influenced by the ruling populist government’s control over both the police and judiciary.