Serbian officials, police deny using voice weapons on anti-government protesters

Serbian officials denied on Sunday that the country’s security forces used military-grade sonic weapons to disperse and scare protesters at an anti-government rally in the capital.

Opposition officials and Serbian rights groups claimed that during the protests, a wide range of prohibited acoustic weapons were used, which emitted targeted beams to temporarily lose people’s ability. They said they would file charges with the European Court of Human Rights and domestic courts, against those who ordered the attack.

Serbia has not denied that it has acoustic devices in its arsenal.

At least 100,000 people fell in Belgrade on Saturday, a massive rally, a months-long protest against Serbian populist president Aleksandar Vucic and his government.

The rally is part of a national anti-corruption campaign that erupted after the collapse of a train station in northern Serbia in November, killing 15 people.

The demonstrations that began almost every day in response to the tragedy have left Vucic’s ten-year unwavering power over Serbia, with many blamed the crash on rampant government corruption, negligence and disrespect for building safety regulations, and held accountable to victims.

Rally videos show people standing in the train station disaster in 15 minutes of silence while suddenly experiencing a hoarse sound that immediately triggered panic and brief stampede.

A Associated Press photographer at the scene said people started scrambling to cover up, and the middle of downtown street was almost empty when they started to fall down each other.

Military experts say people exposed to weapons experience sharp ear pain, disorientation and panic. Prolonged exposure can lead to eardrum rupture and irreversible hearing damage.

The Belgrade Security Policy Center is a non-governmental organization that condemns “illegal and inhumane illegal weapons, such as acoustic equipment, against peaceful protesters.”

“This act represents a blatant display of force and attempts to incite chaos, aimed at making protests and peaceful citizens commit crimes,” the group said.

The Serbian police and the Ministry of Defense denied using illegal weapons.

According to the State RTS Broadcast, the Serbian president urged the judicial authorities to respond to the information “using sonic cannons during the protest.”

“I asked the Department of Justice and the Prosecutor’s Office to respond, either prosecuting those who use it, and we know they don’t, but let’s check it out,” Vucic said. “Let the proceedings, but then they should also sue those who go public with such a notorious lie.”

Emergency hospitals in Belgrade denied that many people sought help after the incident and urged legal action against those who “disseminate untrue information.”