7 injured, 30 arrested at anti-NATO protest

Two police officers and seven members of the public were injured in clashes last night between a group of some 150 youths and police, B92 understands from MUP. 30 people were arrested in the violence. 7 injured, 30 arrested at anti-NATO protest The Interior Ministry has announced that 30 people altogether were arrested during the violent scenes that ensued after the anti-NATO rally in Republic Square, including 15 minors. Six suspects have been remanded in custody for 48 hours. Two policemen and seven members of the public were injured during the clashes, while five police vehicles were also damaged. Hooligans attacked Studio B and RTS camera crews and hurled stones at police on duty at the Patriarchy building, according to a statement from the ministry. Three McDonalds restaurants around the city were attacked, as were two shops in Brankova Street. According to hospital director Vladimir Djukic, seven people were admitted to the Casualty department suffering from neuro-surgical injuries following the protest by right-wing organizations to mark the tenth anniversary of the start of the NATO air strikes. The injured included two policemen, said Djukic. After the rally in Republic Square, several hundred people, mainly youths, stayed on to continue the protest. Very quickly the patriotic rally degenerated into running battles with police and, traditionally, an excuse to smash up the center of the city. Immediately after the protest, groups of young men clashed with the police in various locations around the city, the most violent of which took place in Zeleni Venac, where the McDonalds fast food restaurant had its windows smashed in. The McDonalds restaurants in the Banovo Brdo district and in Pozeska Street also suffered material damage. Emergency medical teams administered treatment on the streets, while riot police blocked off several thoroughfares. In one incident, a Studio B camera crew came under attack at the pedestrian crossing in front of the National Theater. An assistant and a cameraman, who did not wish to comment on the incident, sustained minor injuries and parts of their equipment were destroyed. “At just the moment we decided to leave the rally, we made for the National Theater, where our driver was meant to be waiting for us. At the pedestrian crossing in front of the National Theater, three young lads came up to us, one of whom was wearing a hood,“ said Studio B journalist Igor Kosut, who was part of the team that came under attack. “He went up to our assistant and asked him which TV station we were from, and he told him Studio B in good faith; a torrent of abuse and threats then followed—you’re traitors and such like. At the same time he went for him, kicked him, hit him in the stomach a few times,“ said Kosut. “Four more of them came running up. The cameraman took a few punches as well at that point, in passing, if you will. The assistant threw down the tripod he was carrying. Afterwards, after he’d run across to the National Theater, they started smashing up the tripod,“ he recalled. Renditions of the Serbian and Russian national anthems were played at the start of the meeting, before the speakers and crowds expressed their indignation at the government’s pro-European stance, stressing that Serbia’s future required only Russian support. The crowd carried banners from movements such as the Obraz, 1389, the Nasi Association, the Ravnogorski Movement, the Serb Radical Party, while pictures of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic also abounded. The crowd chanted “Give Us Weapons!“ and lit firecrackers. The rally was organized by the National Movement of Serbia, the Sloboda Association, the Defenders of the Fatherland, the Nasi Association, the Dveri Serb Committee and other organizations. Police rounding up hooligans in Zeleni Venac last night (Beta)

7 injured, 30 arrested at anti-NATO protest

The Interior Ministry has announced that 30 people altogether were arrested during the violent scenes that ensued after the anti-NATO rally in Republic Square, including 15 minors. Six suspects have been remanded in custody for 48 hours. Two policemen and seven members of the public were injured during the clashes, while five police vehicles were also damaged.

Hooligans attacked Studio B and RTS camera crews and hurled stones at police on duty at the Patriarchy building, according to a statement from the ministry.

Three McDonalds restaurants around the city were attacked, as were two shops in Brankova Street.

According to hospital director Vladimir Đukić, seven people were admitted to the Casualty department suffering from neuro-surgical injuries following the protest by right-wing organizations to mark the tenth anniversary of the start of the NATO air strikes. The injured included two policemen, said Đukić.

After the rally in Republic Square, several hundred people, mainly youths, stayed on to continue the protest.

Very quickly the patriotic rally degenerated into running battles with police and, traditionally, an excuse to smash up the center of the city.

Immediately after the protest, groups of young men clashed with the police in various locations around the city, the most violent of which took place in Zeleni Venac, where the McDonalds fast food restaurant had its windows smashed in.

The McDonalds restaurants in the Banovo Brdo district and in Požeška Street also suffered material damage.

Emergency medical teams administered treatment on the streets, while riot police blocked off several thoroughfares.

In one incident, a Studio B camera crew came under attack at the pedestrian crossing in front of the National Theater.

An assistant and a cameraman, who did not wish to comment on the incident, sustained minor injuries and parts of their equipment were destroyed.

“At just the moment we decided to leave the rally, we made for the National Theater, where our driver was meant to be waiting for us. At the pedestrian crossing in front of the National Theater, three young lads came up to us, one of whom was wearing a hood,“ said Studio B journalist Igor Košut, who was part of the team that came under attack.

“He went up to our assistant and asked him which TV station we were from, and he told him Studio B in good faith; a torrent of abuse and threats then followed—you’re traitors and such like. At the same time he went for him, kicked him, hit him in the stomach a few times,“ said Košut.

“Four more of them came running up. The cameraman took a few punches as well at that point, in passing, if you will. The assistant threw down the tripod he was carrying. Afterwards, after he’d run across to the National Theater, they started smashing up the tripod,“ he recalled.

Renditions of the Serbian and Russian national anthems were played at the start of the meeting, before the speakers and crowds expressed their indignation at the government’s pro-European stance, stressing that Serbia’s future required only Russian support.

The crowd carried banners from movements such as the Obraz, 1389, the Naši Association, the Ravnogorski Movement, the Serb Radical Party, while pictures of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milošević also abounded.

The crowd chanted “Give Us Weapons!“ and lit firecrackers. The rally was organized by the National Movement of Serbia, the Sloboda Association, the Defenders of the Fatherland, the Naši Association, the Dveri Serb Committee and other organizations.