Dačić doesn't rule out "preventive arrests"

IM Ivica Dacic hasn't ruled out the possibility of preventive arrests of those who threaten Pride Parade participants and says the govt. will discuss the event. Speaking to B92, Dacic said that it would good if the parade could pass off without incident so that Serbia could show itself in a good light, particularly in light of its aspiration for EU integration. Dacic doesn't rule out "preventive arrests" He added that the event should have been better politically prepared, as the accent has been purely on the security aspect. "The police has information that several major attacks are being prepared on Pride Parade marchers," said the minister. He warned that everyone had to be on top of their game to ensure maximum security at the event. Nor did Dacic rule out preventive arrests of potential troublemakers: “Where there are clear signs that someone’s threatening, the police will react. Where there is operative knowledge of threats, the police can’t do anything unless there’s clear proof. Where there is clear proof, defined with names and surnames, the police will react preventively.“ The minister added that the police were not calling into question the holding of the parade, but expected the government to adopt a stance on the matter. “The police are in a situation where it will have to physically protect parade participants,which effectively means tracking arrivals and departures. Incidents won’t necessarily take place at the event itself. That’s why it’s necessary for the police to do all this well...The authorities need to give clear political support,“ he stressed. “At today’s cabinet meeting, I’ll ask the government to discuss the event, and I expect a certain political message. The government shouldn’t keep quiet, as political and police issues are mixed up here,“ Dacic said. The minister said that the media hype over the Pride Parade was excessive, adding that the number of police that would be on duty and where was an operative secret. Ivica Dacic (FoNet, archive)

Dačić doesn't rule out "preventive arrests"

He added that the event should have been better politically prepared, as the accent has been purely on the security aspect.

"The police has information that several major attacks are being prepared on Pride Parade marchers," said the minister. He warned that everyone had to be on top of their game to ensure maximum security at the event.

Nor did Dačić rule out preventive arrests of potential troublemakers: “Where there are clear signs that someone’s threatening, the police will react. Where there is operative knowledge of threats, the police can’t do anything unless there’s clear proof. Where there is clear proof, defined with names and surnames, the police will react preventively.“

The minister added that the police were not calling into question the holding of the parade, but expected the government to adopt a stance on the matter.

“The police are in a situation where it will have to physically protect parade participants,which effectively means tracking arrivals and departures. Incidents won’t necessarily take place at the event itself. That’s why it’s necessary for the police to do all this well...The authorities need to give clear political support,“ he stressed.

“At today’s cabinet meeting, I’ll ask the government to discuss the event, and I expect a certain political message. The government shouldn’t keep quiet, as political and police issues are mixed up here,“ Dačić said.

The minister said that the media hype over the Pride Parade was excessive, adding that the number of police that would be on duty and where was an operative secret.