Mass protests planned as Serbia marks anniversary of train station collapse

"Tens of thousands of people are converging on the northern Serbian city of Novi Sad for a commemoration of the victims of a tragedy a year ago that killed 16 people. Regular student-led protests have gripped Serbia since the collapse of the canopy at the newly renovated railway station in the country's second largest city on November 1, 2024, which became a symbol of entrenched corruption."

"Students, who called for the largest commemorative gathering on Saturday, and others, have been pouring into Novi Sad since Friday, arriving by car, bicycle, or on foot. Thousands marched from Belgrade for some 100km (62 miles) and other parts of the country, including Novi Pazar, about 340km (210 miles) south of the capital. It took them 16 days to finish the march."

"Flowers are laid under the names of victims at the entrance of the Novi Sad railway station [Alkis Konstantinidis/Reuters] Dijana Hrka's 27-year-old son was among the victims. What I want to know is who killed my child so I can have a little peace, so that I don't keep going through hell, she told Al Jazeera. Hrka added: I am looking for justice. I want no other mother to go through what I am going through."

"The protests over the station's collapse have led to the resignation of the prime minister, the fall of his government and the formation of a new one. But nationalist President Aleksandar Vucic has remained defiantly in office. Vucic regularly labelled demonstrators as foreign-funded coup plotters, while members of his SNS party pushed conspiracy theories, claiming that the train station roof collapse may have been an orchestrated atta"

Tens of thousands gathered in Novi Sad to commemorate a tragedy that killed 16 people after the canopy collapse at the renovated railway station on November 1, 2024. Student-led protests have persisted, framing the collapse as a symbol of entrenched corruption and initially demanding a transparent investigation before escalating to calls for early elections. Marchers arrived by car, bicycle, or on foot, including a 100km march from Belgrade and a 16-day procession from other regions. Residents greeted marchers, and flowers were laid at the station. The protests prompted the prime minister's resignation and government collapse, while President Aleksandar Vucic remained in office and accused demonstrators of foreign influence.

Read at www.aljazeera.com