site.btaSerbian Prosecutors Drop Probe into Alleged Use of Sonic Cannon at March Protest
Serbia’s Public Prosecutors Office for Organized Crime has closed its investigation into allegations that a sonic cannon was used against demonstrators during a protest in Belgrade on March 15, according to state broadcaster RTS.
The investigation was launched in late May following several terrorism-related complaints, including one filed by the opposition Democratic Party. However, as the case involves classified materials, further details have not been made public.
The probe focused on whether a sonic weapon had been deployed during the March 15 protest. Three days after the demonstration, prosecutors stated that no such device had been used, though the investigation would continue to determine what had triggered panic among the crowd.
In an official statement, the Prosecutor’s Office said a pre-trial investigation had been opened and a formal request had been sent to the Interior Ministry for information on whether any sonic or other dangerous devices were used that might have endangered the lives of protesters.
Reports from two government ministries and the Security Information Agency concluded that security personnel at the scene had not “heard, seen, or used the so-called sonic cannon.”
By the end of May, prosecutors had interviewed 170 individuals in connection with the case. Protest participants reported hearing a strange noise, similar to an approaching drone or vehicle at around 19:11 local time. This occurred while attendees were traditionally paying their respects to the 15 victims of the Novi Sad railway station canopy collapse incident in November 2024.
In April, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic stated that an FBI report had confirmed that the Serbian police’s acoustic equipment had not been used during the March 15 protest.
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