Serbian demonstrators claim law enforcement used ‘acoustic weapons’

(MENAFN) Serbian officials have dismissed allegations that security forces used sound cannons against demonstrators during a large anti-government protest in Belgrade, calling the claims misinformation aimed at destabilizing the country.

The protest, one of the largest in Serbia’s recent history, saw over 80,000 people take to the streets on Saturday. Videos from the event captured a sudden whooshing noise that momentarily startled the crowd, causing a brief stampede before protesters returned to their positions, seemingly unharmed.

Opposition leaders from the Freedom and Justice Party (SSP) and the US- and Soros-funded NGO Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP) accused police of deploying a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD), a high-frequency sound weapon known to cause pain and disorientation. The BCSP condemned what it called the "unlawful and inhumane use of prohibited weapons" against peaceful demonstrators.

However, Serbia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs firmly denied the allegations, stating there was no evidence of sonic weapons being used. President Aleksandar Vučić also rejected the claims, arguing that real LRAD devices cause severe nausea and vomiting. Calling the accusations deliberate misinformation, Vučić urged the Ministry of Justice to investigate both the claims and those spreading them.

“If it was really used, let’s prosecute those responsible. But since we know it wasn’t, let’s also hold accountable those who lied,” he said.

Hospitals in Belgrade also refuted reports that protesters sought medical treatment due to the alleged device, calling for legal action against those spreading false information.

The demonstrations were initially sparked by student-led protests over alleged corruption and government mismanagement following a fatal accident at Novi Sad railway station in late 2024. Vučić maintains that the protests are politically motivated attempts to destabilize Serbia. In a social media post, he praised law enforcement for handling the unrest “without raising a baton” and credited them for maintaining peace.

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