Serbia arrests 11 as anger surges over roof collapse at train station

Deadly incidental occurred aft Novi Sad presumption was renovated, with protesters blaming sloppy enactment led by corrupt officials.

Serbian authorities person arrested 11 radical successful transportation with a extortion illness astatine a bid presumption that killed 15 radical and led to protests alleging that authorities corruption was to blame.

Public prosecutors successful the bluish metropolis of Novi Sad said connected Thursday that constabulary had arrested 11 radical connected its orders, arsenic portion of an probe into the collapse of the extortion astatine the recently renovated section bid presumption earlier this month.

The Higher Prosecutor’s Office said successful a connection that the suspects, identified lone by their initials, look charges of committing transgression acts against nationalist security, causing nationalist information and carrying retired irregular operation enactment arsenic portion of the renovation project, conducted by a Serbian-Chinese partnership, prosecutors said.

Officials person offered conflicting accusation astir whether the extortion was included successful the renovation project, questions implicit the basal causes of the illness acting arsenic a lightning rod for broader dissatisfaction with the government, which has launched a fig of ample infrastructure projects with Chinese authorities companies.

Regular protests person taken spot since the accident, with critics alleging the extortion clang was the effect of sloppy renovation enactment caused by rampant corruption and a deficiency of transparency, demanding that those liable beryllium brought to justness and punished.

Protesters successful Belgrade outcry slogans, the reddish overgarment connected their hands symbolising blood, alleging authorities corruption was to blasted for the illness of a factual extortion astatine a precocious renovated railway presumption successful Novi Sad [File: Darko Vojinovic/AP Photo]

Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic described the protests connected Thursday arsenic “terror” and “brutal unit by definite governmental factors”, saying besides that “we volition decision the thugs and bullies … we are not afraid”.

Serbian media reported that Goran Vesic, who resigned arsenic operation curate aft the collapse, was among those detained. The erstwhile curate argued connected Facebook that helium was not arrested, but had “voluntarily responded” to a petition from police.

Protesters are besides seeking the resignation of Prime Minister Milos Vucevic and the politician of Novi Sad, on with the prosecution of officials liable for the tragedy.

Apart from Vesic, Trade Minister Tomislav Momirovic, who was operation curate from 2020 to 2022 – erstwhile the presumption renovation enactment began – has besides resigned.

Serbia Railways Infrastructure’s acting wide manager Jelena Tanaskovic has besides stepped down.

The absorption and members of the nationalist person demanded the work of contracts signed with the companies progressive successful renovating the station.

A consortium of 4 companies – China Railway International and China Communications Construction, France’s Egis and Hungary’s Utiber – were successful complaint of the works.

The renovations were completed conscionable a fewer weeks earlier the extortion collapsed.

Fourteen people, aged betwixt six and 74, were killed astatine the country connected November 1, portion 1 idiosyncratic died successful infirmary connected Sunday.

People airy candles for victims aft the extortion illness successful Novi Sad successful November [File: Darko Vojinovic/AP Photo]

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Al Jazeera and quality agencies