A deafening sound of whistles, drums and vuvuzelas filled the air on Saturday. Crowds chanted “Pump it Up” – a slogan adopted during the past four months of student-led protests.
Anti-riot police cordon off the area near the parliament building during the rally.Credit: AP
The government estimated that 107,000 people turned up to protest on Saturday, while an independent monitoring group estimated the crowd to be up to 325,000, The Washington Post reported. Serbian independent media described the rally as the biggest ever in the country.
The rally was dubbed “15 for 15” – a reference to the date of the protest and the number of people killed at Novi Sad on November 1.
The crowds fell silent for 15 minutes in the evening to honour the victims. Unverified footage shared on social media showed people standing silently with their mobile phone lights turned on while suddenly experiencing a whooshing sound.
An Associated Press photographer at the scene said it triggered panic as people started scrambling for cover, leaving the middle of the downtown street almost empty as they fell over each other.
Protesters march during a major rally against Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Saturday.Credit: Getty Images
The Belgrade Centre for Security Policy, a non-government organisation, condemned “the unlawful and inhumane deployment of prohibited weapons, such as acoustic devices, against peaceful protesters”.
“This act represents a blatant display of force and an attempt to incite chaos, aiming to delegitimise protests and criminalise peaceful citizens,” the group said.
On Sunday, the Serbian president urged judicial authorities to respond to the information “that sonic cannons were used during the protests”, the state RTS broadcaster reported.
“I am asking … the Ministry of Justice and the prosecutor’s office to react, either to prosecute those who used it, and we know they didn’t, but let’s check,” Vučić said.
“Let there be a proceeding, but then they should also prosecute those who went public with such a notorious lie.”
Belgrade’s emergency hospital has denied reports that many people sought help after the incident, and urged legal action against those who “spread untrue information”.
Ahead of the demonstration, Vučić repeatedly warned of alleged plans for unrest while threatening arrests and harsh sentences for any incidents.
As rallies were under way on Saturday, he said he had heard the protesters’ message, The Washington Post reported. “All people in the government have to understand the message when this many people gather. We will have to change ourselves,” he said.
