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Protesters demand arrests over fatal train roof collapse in Serbia – Irvine Times

Protesters demand arrests over fatal train roof collapse in Serbia – Irvine Times

Police formed a cordon outside the Ministry of Construction and Infrastructure in central Belgrade as several thousand people called on senior government ministers, including Prime Minister Milos Vucevic, to step down immediately.

“Arrest, arrest!” chanted the crowd.

Roof collapse in Serbia
Protesters in Belgrade with red paint on their hands, symbolizing blood, shout slogans and demand arrests after the crash at Novi Sad train station on Friday (Darko Voinovic/AP)

They shouted at police officers outside the building that they were “guarding murderers” and “your hands are bloody” while holding banners reading “Corruption kills” and “We are all under cover!”.

Opposition political activist Nikola Ristic urged: “Everywhere you can, leave bloody hands so they know their hands are bloody.” In any city in Serbia, anywhere you can.

The concrete canopy that ran along the front of the train station in the northern city of Novi Sad collapsed suddenly on Friday, falling on people who were sitting on benches or walking through the building’s entrance.

Surveillance footage shows the canopy collapsing in seconds.

Roof collapse in Serbia
Rescuers search for victims after the roof of Novi Sad train station collapsed (Darko Voinović/AP)

Among the dead was a six-year-old girl.

The three injured, who are aged between 18 and 24, all had to have their limbs amputated and were still in serious condition on Sunday, doctors said.

Funerals for the victims were held in northern Serbia, attended by thousands.

The train station has been renovated twice in recent years, and critics of Serbia’s populist government have blamed the disaster on rampant corruption, a lack of transparency and sloppy repairs. The renovation was part of a wider deal with Chinese construction companies.

Liberal politician Biljana Stojkovic said: “Citizens have nothing to lose anymore, they are increasingly aware of this. It is grief combined with anger, despair that turns into rage.

Roof collapse in Serbia
Protesters held banners reading “Corruption kills” and “We’re all under cover!” (Darko Voinovic/AP)

Serbia’s populist government has promised a thorough investigation, with prosecutors saying they have already questioned more than two dozen people.

But critics say justice is unlikely to be served when populists firmly control the judiciary and police.

Officials insist the canopy was part of the repair work, suggesting that is what caused it to collapse, but have not given an explanation as to why.

Novi Sad station was originally built in 1964, while the renovated station was opened by President Aleksandar Vucic and his populist ally, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, more than two years ago as a major stop for a planned high-speed rail line between Belgrade and Budapest.

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