"Raise hand against police, and you know what's coming"

Interior Minister Ivica Dacic today commented on an incident in a local betting parlor in the Belgrade municipality of Zemun. Police intervened there in the early hours of Monday, and have filed criminal charges against several men for assaulting police officers. Those who were at the parlor, however, accuse police of brutality. "Raise hand against police, and you know what's coming" Now Dacic says that the truth about the incident will be revealed, and that there will be a probe to determine whether police were attacked first, and if they subsequently overstepped their authority when they reacted. A commission has been set up to this end, and the prosecution has also been included in the process, he revealed. "I am of the opinion that police must do their job efficiently and responsibly. No one is allowed to attack police, while police must protect citizens and maintain public order," the minister said today in Belgrade. "Whoever raises their hand against police, knows what's coming to them," he added. Asked to elaborate on this statement, the minister said that "use of force" was what was coming, in case police officers were assaulted, and noted that such attacks constitute for a criminal offense. Several police officers and citizens were injured during the incident. While those present at the betting parlor said they did nothing to provoke the officers, Belgrade police chief Slobodan Vukolic told B92 that his men reacted after they were attacked, and that some of those involved in the incident had criminal records, which they denied. A video from the parlor's surveillance cameras has also been made public, showing the part where police beat several men at the premises, but the tape does not show the officer's arrival or what preceded their intervention.

"Raise hand against police, and you know what's coming"

Now Dačić says that the truth about the incident will be revealed, and that there will be a probe to determine whether police were attacked first, and if they subsequently overstepped their authority when they reacted.

A commission has been set up to this end, and the prosecution has also been included in the process, he revealed.

"I am of the opinion that police must do their job efficiently and responsibly. No one is allowed to attack police, while police must protect citizens and maintain public order," the minister said today in Belgrade.

"Whoever raises their hand against police, knows what's coming to them," he added.

Asked to elaborate on this statement, the minister said that "use of force" was what was coming, in case police officers were assaulted, and noted that such attacks constitute for a criminal offense.

Several police officers and citizens were injured during the incident. While those present at the betting parlor said they did nothing to provoke the officers, Belgrade police chief Slobodan Vukolić told B92 that his men reacted after they were attacked, and that some of those involved in the incident had criminal records, which they denied.

A video from the parlor's surveillance cameras has also been made public, showing the part where police beat several men at the premises, but the tape does not show the officer's arrival or what preceded their intervention.