site.btaPolice Chase, Arrest Citizens on Blocked Streets in Serbia

Police are chasing and arresting citizens who have again started blocking the streets of Belgrade and other cities in Serbia.

In the Serbian capital, traffic was obstructed on numerous streets and intersections from 7 am on the call of students. Protesters undertook mobile blockades - stopping the flow of people and vehicles at a specific location and when law enforcement forces approached them, they moved to the next pre-planned location.

In the centre of Belgrade and in the districts of Novi Belgrade and Zemun this has happened repeatedly over the last few hours, and the police are making arrests, the number of which is currently unknown.

Several incidents have also occurred in which protesters have reacted against the actions of law enforcement forces. 

Some of the protesters are sitting on the roadway, others are bringing cots and chairs to keep the blockade going longer despite the high temperatures in recent days.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Ivica Dacic told Pink TV that exactly at 7 am, when it was announced that “Belgrade will stop,” not a single street was blocked, while at 7:30 am there were 925 people at all the blockades.

“All the bridges in the Serbian capital are passable,” Dacic added, stressing that law enforcement forces have allowed some blockades in places that are not relevant for unimpeded movement.

Temperatures in Serbia have exceeded 30C since the morning and did not drop below 23C overnight. Such values, according to experts, are signs of a tropical wave that is expected to end early next week.

Last night, a protest was held outside the law school where more than 100 lawyers offered free legal aid to students.

Nineteen people were arrested in Belgrade overnight, the Interior Ministry said.