BELGRADE, Serbia — A serious incident occurred during a student-led protest on Thursday when a driver deliberately drove into a group of protestors, resulting in critical injuries to a young woman. The protests have been ongoing throughout Serbia in response to the tragic collapse of a railway station canopy in November that led to the deaths of 15 individuals.
After striking the young woman, the driver fled the scene in central Belgrade. Eyewitness reports indicate she was thrown onto the car’s roof before landing on the ground with severe head injuries. According to reports from N1 television, she was transported to a local hospital while still conscious, with state broadcaster RTS confirming her condition as stable.
Authorities have reported that the driver was apprehended and is facing charges of attempted murder. While there have been multiple incidents during the protests, this particular case marked the first serious injury among demonstrators.
In response to the alarming event, hundreds of university students gathered spontaneously in front of the law faculty in downtown Belgrade, rallying to show support for the injured woman. They voiced their anger with chants such as “Killers” and “You will not be allowed to run us over.” The demonstrators later proceeded to march toward the state prosecutor’s office, with additional crowds forming in Novi Sad, where the previous canopy collapse had occurred.
The European Union’s mission in Serbia expressed its concern regarding the incident, emphasizing the importance of protecting the right to peaceful assembly, as stated in a post on X. Citizens across Serbia have been participating in silent 15-minute stops daily, demanding accountability for those responsible for the canopy collapse and seeking justice.
Since November 1, traffic blockades have been occurring consistently at 11:52 a.m., marking the exact moment when the Novi Sad canopy failed and tragically fell on individuals who were obliviously enjoying a sunny day below.
The railway station had undergone renovations on two occasions in recent years, and many residents attribute the catastrophic incident to widespread corruption that led to poor construction quality. The renovation was part of a broader railroad project involving Chinese state companies.
The canopy collapse has sparked wider discontent regarding the increasingly authoritarian governance of populist President Aleksandar Vu?i?, highlighting public calls for democratic reforms. In reaction to the protests, Vu?i? has suggested that foreign entities are financing the student demonstrations with the aim to forcibly depose him from power. He has expressed support for those opposing the protests, claiming that the frequent blockades infringe upon citizens’ freedoms of movement.
