B92 targeted due to advocacy efforts

B92 targeted due to advocacy efforts

"The building where our news desks are and from which we broadcast our programmes has been under police protection for more than 10 years, while two of our journalists have been under permanent police protection for more than five years," Veran Matic, editor-in-chief of the B92 news programme, said in a statement late Sunday.

There have been almost no incidents in Belgrade or Serbia in which the targets of attacks by hooligans and extremists have not included the B92, the statement said.

"Today, the Pride Parade, the main event in the city, was practically broadcast live on B92, while there has been a series of shows and reports about this event on the radio, the television and the web site over the past few weeks... Apparently the extremists' estimate was that it is easier to attack a media company than the Pride Parade to make their position known," the statement said.

The B92 understands that, this time around, the attacks were directed not only against us, but also against the police, and that one of the hooligans' very goals - in addition to torching the building and vehicles parked nearby with incendiary devices - was to injure the police officers, the statement.

Two policemen were hurt - one of them was hit in the head by a flare, which burned parts of his hair, while the other was hit in the head by a stone and directly physically attacked. In addition to our company's property, the property of the police and a bank in the other part of the building was also damaged, the statement said.

The attacks will not weaken the B92's commitment to the fundamental values that we have been advocating throughout the years, the statement said.

The B92 will remain on the frontline of the fight against exclusivism, discrimination and violence in Serbian society. We request that the authorities bring the attackers to trial and that the democratic public condemn the violence and show solidarity with those targeted by it, the statement said.

The B92 also thanked all members of the police force who took part in the defence of its employees and property.