Third night of protests in Serbia: Incidents, blockades, Vučić says 'you will all be arrested'

(Patria) - For the third night in a row, citizens and students have blocked main streets and intersections in about 20 cities in Serbia, including Belgrade, Novi Sad, Niš, Kragujevac, Subotica, Čačak, Šabac, Kraljevo, Zaječar, and others. The protests were organized in support of arrested students and high school graduates.

Yesterday, eight months since the tragic accident in Novi Sad, when 16 people died due to a canopy collapse, was marked. As part of the protests, students called for a complete work stoppage until their demands are met.

The night was turbulent, with several recorded incidents and clashes between police and protesters. Police forces were heavily present throughout the country.

Most blockades lasted until midnight, and key city points such as Autokomanda, the intersection near Fontana in New Belgrade, Banovo brdo, Železnik, Studentski trg, as well as the intersection near the Ada Mall and Delta Planet shopping centers were affected.

In Novi Sad, citizens left garbage in front of the Serbian Progressive Party building on Bulevar oslobođenja, Nova.rs reports.

Three people were arrested in Novi Pazar for blocking the main road.

Masked men threw flares at two cafes in the city center in Belgrade.

The largest number of incidents were recorded in Novi Sad, where a car with two young men broke through a blockade. Also, an incident occurred near the Bridge of Liberty when a woman hit two young protesters with her car, who were slightly injured.

Arrests and detentions also occurred in other cities such as Čačak, Šabac, and Niš.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said last night that the state will not allow any vital facility to be blocked or its operation to be stopped.

"We will not allow anything vital to be stopped. You will never block Kostolac, the airport, Gazela again. You will all be arrested, all of you, enough of this kind of harassment," Vučić said.