Protesters in Serbia's north demolish ruling party offices

Protests against Serbia’s ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) intensified on Thursday night, with demonstrators demolishing party offices in Novi Sad with clashes with police and party supporters in Belgrade.

According to reports, police and SNS loyalists were largely absent in Novi Sad, as protesters smashed windows, tossed furniture, and splashed paint across the party’s headquarters, chanting 'He’s gone' in reference to President Aleksandar Vucic’s 13-year rule.

The unrest follows daily demonstrations sparked by the collapse of a railway station roof in the town that killed 16 people last November, with demonstrators calling for government accountability.

Similar protests occurred in towns across Serbia, highlighting growing public dissatisfaction with Vucic and the SNS.

In Belgrade, hundreds of anti-government protesters and party supporters exchanged flares and firecrackers on one of the city’s main boulevards, prompting police in riot gear to intervene.

Interior Minister Ivica Dacic reported that Wednesday’s clashes left 27 officers and about 80 civilians injured, and 47 people detained.

Vucic warned of further arrests, stating that demonstrators “did not want peace and Ghandian protests,” while protesters continue to demand early elections.

Students, opposition groups, and anti-corruption watchdogs accuse Vucic and his allies of ties to organised crime, political violence, and media suppression - claims the government has denied.

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