Death toll in Serbia railway station roof collapse now 16
The death toll in the collapse of a train station roof in Serbia,which has triggered months of anti-government protests, rose to 16 Friday after a teenager died of his injuries.
The boy was being treated at a military hospital in the capital Belgrade since the disaster in Novi Sad last November.
"Despite all measures taken and the utmost dedication of our staff, the patient (born in 2006) succumbed to complex injuries and related complications," the hospital said on its website.
"We extend our deepest condolences to the family."
Soon after news of his death broke, a black flag was raised on the building of the Novi Sad School of Economics, which he attended, and mourners laid flowers and lit candles.
"You will forever be a part of our stories, our memories, and our hearts," read one banner left outside the school by pupils.
The concrete roof at the Novi Sad station came crashing down on November 1, killing 14 people at the time, aged between six and 74.
Three others were injured, one of whom died two weeks later.
Public outrage over the tragedy sparked nationwide protests.
Many critics blamed the deaths on corruption and inadequate oversight of construction projects, especially as restoration work at the train station had been completed shortly before the accident.
Protesters are demanding that those responsible be held accountable, that arrested demonstrators be released, and that the system be made less corrupt.
On Friday evening, students and citizens marched once again through the streets of Novi Sad to pay tribute to the victims of the tragedy.
Also on Friday in the southern city of Nis, protesters confronted supporters of the governing Serbian Progressive Party, who were planning to gather and meet party officials.
The police separated the groups, but protesters threw eggs and water at them, with the mayor of Nis among those targeted.
- Massive protests -
Last Saturday, between 100,000 and 300,000 people are estimated to have taken part in a mass rally in Belgrade, the largest in Serbian history.
The largely peaceful demonstration was disrupted after an unknown noise caused a brief panic in some areas.
Some protesters and members of the political opposition allege the authorities used an acoustic cannon –- a military device used to disperse crowds -- a charge the government has denied.
The Council of Europe rights body said it was "very concerned about the escalation of tensions in the country" and called for a thorough investigation of the incident.
- 'Grateful' to Russia -
Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets of Novi Sad and other cities in recent months, in the biggest challenge to the 12-year rule of populist President Aleksandar Vucic.
He has responded by alternating between calls for dialogue and claims that the demonstrators are backed by foreign powers.
Serbia's Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin picked up that narrative in comments on Friday.
Serbia's authorities were "grateful to the Russian special services for the information that helps in the fight against the 'colour revolution'", Vulin told Russia's RIA state news agency.
The protests have led to the resignation of several high-ranking officials in Serbia, including the prime minister, who is currently serving a one-month caretaker mandate.
More than a dozen people have been charged in connection with the tragedy, including former transport minister Goran Vesic, who resigned days after the incident.
oz-cbo/jj/js
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hill
an hour ago
- The Hill
Zelensky looking to meet with Trump at G7
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is looking to meet with President Trump at an upcoming Group of Seven (G7) summit, according to his office. Andriy Yermak, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said that Trump and Zelensky will have a meeting amid the summit in Canada, according to a Friday article on Zelensky's official website. The article stated that the comments came amid the United News telethon, which the Kyiv Independent has described as the largest television channel in the country's merger of coverage. In the first few months of his second term, Trump and his administration have pushed for an end to the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. Last weekend, Ukraine struck one of its most harmful blows in its war against Russia, using smuggled drones to target bombers far into Russian territory. In a thread on the social media platform X last Sunday, Zelensky said, 'a brilliant operation was carried out — on enemy territory' that day. 'The preparation took over a year and a half. Planning, organi[z]ation, every detail was perfectly executed. It can be said with confidence that this was an absolutely unique operation,' Zelensky wrote about the attack. Back in February, Zelensky, Trump and Vice President Vance all had a rocky meeting in the Oval Office that devolved into shouting and finger-pointing. The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
Ukraine Destroys 13 Russian Tanks, 100 Armored Vehicles as Locomotive Hit
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Ukraine has struck a Russian train carrying military equipment, destroying 13 tanks and more than 100 armored vehicles The Southern Defense Forces of Ukraine posted about the Saturday attack, along with multiple others, on social media. Why It Matters Ukraine's attack marks a significant tactical gain as it continues to pressure Russian logistics and supply chains. The strike on a Russian freight train transporting military equipment—particularly locomotives hauling armored units—deals a substantial blow to Moscow's ability to reinforce its front-line positions quickly. An M113 armored vehicle camouflaged with anti-drone netting during a training exercise by the Ukrainian military at an undisclosed location in Ukraine on June 6, 2025. An M113 armored vehicle camouflaged with anti-drone netting during a training exercise by the Ukrainian military at an undisclosed location in Ukraine on June 6, 2025. FLORENT VERGNES/AFP via Getty Images What To Know Kyiv also had to "repel" multiple Russian assaults, the Southern Defense Forces of Ukraine said, with five taking place near Malynivka and toward Poltavka. Two Russian attacks near Piatykhatky and toward Pavlivka "on the position of our defenders" were described as "useless." In the 24 hours leading up to Saturday, Ukraine recorded more than 800 Russian attacks using different types of kamikaze drones and had itself carried out more than 350 drone strikes, dropping around 450 munitions. In the southern region, Russian forces carried out 12 airstrikes in the past 24 hours with a total of 47 guided bombs hitting settlements in the Zaporizhzhia region. Front-line towns and villages in the Mykolaiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions were hit by artillery and drone attacks. In total, 41 attacks were recorded in 22 different places. In the Kherson region, two people were killed and 10 others were injured due to the shelling, according to Kyiv. In the past 24 hours Russian losses have included the following: 114 personnel One railway locomotive 23 tanks Seven artillery systems 103 units of automobile and armored equipment 10 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) used for reconnaissance or tactical support 10 motorcycles One radio-electronic warfare item Nine UAV-related antenna systems Five communications antenna Five generators Four ammunition storage spaces Kyiv has also released a map showing what it says are Russia's plans to seize half of Ukraine by the end of next year. The Ukrainian Presidential Office deputy head, Colonel Pavlo Palisa, made the claims, and they were followed by President Donald Trump warning that he would use further sanctions against Moscow if the war dragged on. What People Are Saying The Ukrainian Presidential Office deputy head, Colonel Pavlo Palisa, said Thursday: Russia's "plan for next year is to occupy the whole part of Ukraine which is situated on the left bank of the Dnieper River," and "occupy the Odesa and Mykolaiv regions to cut Ukraine's access to the Black Sea." President Donald Trump said about U.S. sanctions: "If I think Russia will not be making a deal or stopping the bloodshed…I'll use it if it's necessary." He added: "I'm OK with it. I haven't decided to use it." What Happens Next All eyes will likely be on what Trump does with regard to the U.S.' reaction to continued Russian attacks in Ukraine.
Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Newsweek
NATO Ally 'Can't Rely' Solely on US for Protection, Ex-Trump Adviser Warns
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The U.S. can no longer be considered a reliable ally for Britain and the other NATO members, former Russia adviser to President Donald Trump Fiona Hill said in a recent interview with British newspaper The Guardian. "We're in pretty big trouble," the American-British national said during her interview about the U.K.'s vulnerable geopolitical situation. "We can't rely exclusively on anyone anymore," she said, casting doubt on Trump's determination to tackle Vladimir Putin's aggressive expansion ambitions in Europe. Why It Matters Hill's comments reflect widespread concerns in Europe that the U.S. is no longer the reliable ally it used to be for the continent, and European nations need to quickly get ready to fend for themselves, boosting military spending, forging new alliances or strengthening existing ones. Earlier this week, most NATO members voted to endorse Trump's demand for them to increase their defense spending to 5 percent of their GDP. But this goal might be hard to reach: already in 2023, NATO leaders agreed to spend at least 2 percent of their GDP on national defense budgets, but 22 of the 32 member states are still falling short. During #DefMin, NATO Defence Ministers agreed an ambitious new set of capability targets to build a stronger, fairer, more lethal Alliance, and ensure warfighting readiness for years to come Tap to learn more ↓ — NATO (@NATO) June 5, 2025 What To Know While Hill was born in England, she lived and worked in the U.S. for 30 years, ascending to the role of the White House's chief adviser on Russia during Trump's first administration. Her role was cut short in the summer of 2019, when she was fired by the president, who later accused her of being "terrible at her job." The dismissal followed Hill's testimony at Trump's impeachment trial, where she spoke of Russian meddling at the heart of the White House. Since then, Hill has spoken repeatedly of Trump's admitted admiration for Putin, criticizing his soft approach to the Russian strongman. Fiona Hill, former senior director for Europe and Russia at the National Security Council, on February 2, 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. Fiona Hill, former senior director for Europe and Russia at the National Security Council, on February 2, 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington said that Putin had "declared war on the West" through his invasion of Ukraine, which the Kremlin leader presented to his counterparts in China, North Korea and Iran as "part of a proxy war with the United States." But Trump, who has long admired the Russian president, appears unwilling to take a strong stance against him and instead "wants to have a separate relationship with Putin to do arms-control agreements and also business that will probably enrich their entourage further," Hill told The Guardian. While Trump has recently shown frustration with Putin, who has largely ignored or stalled on the U.S. president's calls for an end to the invasion of Ukraine, he has remained reluctant to impose further sanctions on Moscow—a type of punishment that European leaders have instead embraced. In a recent interview with The Telegraph, Hill said: "If you offer the Russians a carrot, they just eat it, or they take it and hit you over the head with it." What People Are Saying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in March: "If Europe wants to avoid war, Europe must get ready for war. By 2030, Europe must have a strong European defense posture." Though she recently insisted that the U.S. was still "an ally," in April she said: "The West as we knew it no longer exists." France's President Emmanuel Macron, who has long advocated for the creation of an EU army and boosting military spending, said in January: "What will we do in Europe tomorrow if our American ally withdraws its warships from the Mediterranean? If they send their fighter jets from the Atlantic to the Pacific?" Earlier this week, President Donald Trump described a phone call with Putin as a "good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate peace." During the phone call, he said, Putin said "he will have to respond to the recent [Ukrainian] attack on the airfields," Trump wrote on social media, without adding whether he tried to sway the Russian leader from doing so. On June 1, Kyiv launched coordinated, long-range strikes on multiple Russian airbases thousands of miles from Ukraine which took out more than a third of Moscow's strategic cruise missile carriers. What Happens Next According to Hill, Putin sees the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a way toward establishing the country's dominance as a "military power in all of Europe." And the U.S., she warned, cannot be relied on at the moment to help Europe fight off this growing threat. When it comes to defense, she said, the U.K.—and the other NATO members—should not rely on the military umbrella of Washington as they did during the Cold War, "not in the way we did before." A recent survey by the European Council on Foreign Relations found that Europeans are increasingly losing confidence in the U.S. from a geopolitical perspective. A majority, according to the study released in February, considered the U.S. a "necessary partner" rather than "an ally."
