Thousands Rally in Serbia on Anniversary of Deadly Roof Collapse

A year after the roof collapse at a railway station that killed 16 people, thousands of protesters gathered on Saturday in Serbia’s second-largest city to mark the tragedy and demand justice. Many blame the disaster on corruption and a lack of accountability within the government.

The protests — ongoing for months — have been fueled by public anger over the government’s failure to bring anyone to trial for the collapse. The movement has shaken President Aleksandar Vučić’s long hold on power, with demonstrators calling for early elections.

Eyewitnesses said protesters arrived in Novi Sad, the northern city where the tragedy occurred, by car, bus, and on foot — some marching long distances. One of the city’s main roads was packed with people.

Many participants were young. At 11:52 a.m., the exact time the roof collapsed on November 1, 2024, they observed a 16-minute silence — one minute for each victim.

Holding large red hearts inscribed with the names of the dead, protesters laid white flowers and wreaths in front of the railway station. One grieving father, dressed in black, stood silently for hours, staring at his daughter’s name on the wall of the station.

There were no reports of violence, a contrast to protests earlier in the summer when riot police had used stun grenades and tear gas to disperse crowds.

“This is a great tragedy for the Serbian people. We cannot bring back those who died, but we can share the pain of their families — and say enough is enough,” said Sladjana Brmaz, a 51-year-old economist from the central town of Valjevo.

“These people didn’t die in an accident. Their deaths were the result of a broken system and failed politics. Justice will only come when those responsible are held accountable,” she added.

President Vučić posted a photo on Instagram showing himself holding a candle at a church in Belgrade in memory of the victims. “Let the names of those who perished remind us that human life must stand above all divisions,” he wrote, adding that the government had declared Saturday a national day of mourning.

The protest movement — led by students, academics, and opposition leaders — has accused Vučić and his populist, nationalist party of corruption, cronyism, declining public services, and restricting media freedom. The government denies all allegations.

Independent Report Sent to European Parliament

An independent commission of professors, judges, and technical experts investigating the collapse told the European Parliament last week that high-level government bribery had allowed poor construction standards and the hiring of unqualified subcontractors.

Government officials have denied the claims. Recently, both Vučić and Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabić suggested the roof collapse might have been an act of terrorism.

Prosecutors have charged several senior officials with endangering public safety, but the court has yet to confirm the indictments — stalling the start of the trial.