Belgrade/Novi Sad – Anti-government demonstrators stormed and vandalized the offices of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) in Novi Sad on Thursday, as clashes erupted between protesters, police, and party supporters in the capital, Belgrade. The violence came a day after nationwide unrest left dozens injured.
In Novi Sad, Serbia’s second-largest city, dozens of protesters smashed windows, hurled furniture and party materials from the SNS office, and splashed paint across its entrance. Chants of “He’s gone” echoed through the streets, aimed at President Aleksandar Vučić, whose populist rule has spanned 13 years. Notably, neither police nor SNS supporters were present during the ransacking.
Police in full riot gear later moved in, sealing off several city blocks and dispersing crowds with tear gas.
The protests, which have swept across Serbia in recent weeks, were initially sparked by public outrage over the collapse of a newly renovated railway station roof in Novi Sad last November, which killed 16 people. The incident has fueled broader anger over government accountability and eroded support for Vučić and his party.
In Belgrade, tensions flared as hundreds of protesters and SNS supporters clashed on a central boulevard, exchanging flares and firecrackers. Police units charged the demonstrators and used tear gas to restore order.
Interior Minister Ivica Dačić accused protesters of assaulting officers in Novi Sad, Belgrade, and the towns of Pančevo and Šabac, saying at least five police officers were injured.
“Police had to act to avert attacks,” Dačić told reporters in Belgrade. “We are urging everyone to leave the streets.”
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