Protests erupt in Serbia over deadly train station roof collapse
Thousands of protesters gathered in Belgrade on Sunday, demanding accountability from Serbian leaders following the tragic collapse of a train station roof last month that resulted in the deaths of 15 people.
The protests, which have been ongoing for over seven weeks, have been fueled by public anger over the incident in Novi Sad. Many protesters accuse the government of corruption and negligence.
Sunday's demonstration, organized by university students, commenced with a 15-minute period of silence to honor the victims. The protest occupied Slavija Square, a major traffic junction in the city center, causing significant traffic disruptions.
Protesters carried banners with slogans such as "The state is children's property" and "Protests are exams," demanding the resignations of the Prime Minister and the Mayor of Novi Sad. They also called for the prosecution of those responsible for the tragedy and the dismissal of charges against demonstrators who have been arrested during the protests.
In an attempt to quell the protests, the government has recently announced various subsidies for young people and an early winter school break. However, students have continued to protest, stating that these measures do not fully address their demands.
The tragic incident occurred on November 1st when the roof of the train station collapsed during major renovation works, claiming the lives of fourteen people aged between six and 74. A fifteenth victim succumbed to their injuries weeks later. (ILKHA)