World · Europe · 5 hrs ago
Serbia detains 10 officers over alleged abuse of protest detainees
Serbian authorities detained 10 current and former officers over alleged abuse of people held during protests in Belgrade.
The interior ministry says officers from an elite unit tortured and intimidated several detainees in a government compound garage.
The alleged abuse took place on 14 and 15 August 2025, during anti-corruption protests that swept across Serbia.
The protests followed the deaths of 16 people when a railway-station canopy collapsed in Novi Sad in 2024.
The arrests are the first major ones linked to violence against protesters, who have accused police of excessive force and said it caused injuries and psychological trauma.
The protests also preceded the Student List's victory in a snap election, which resulted in the ouster of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party on 25 October.
Serbian authorities detained nine serving police officers and one former officer over alleged abuse of protest detainees.
The interior ministry said the suspects allegedly tortured and intimidated people held in a Belgrade government-compound garage.
The alleged abuse took place on 14-15 August 2025 during anti-corruption protests.
The ministry said the suspects used force and threats to obtain information and to intimidate and unlawfully punish detainees.
The arrests were the first major ones linked to violence against protesters, according to the Guardian.
- Who
- Nine serving police officers and one former officer were detained.
- What
- They are accused of using excessive force, torture and intimidation against detainees.
- When
- The arrests were announced on Wednesday, 4 November 2026; the alleged abuse occurred on 14-15 August 2025.
- Where
- In a garage at the government compound in downtown Belgrade, Serbia.
- Why
- The ministry said the force and threats were intended to obtain information and intimidate and unlawfully punish detainees.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A concrete canopy at a renovated railway station in Novi Sad collapsed, killing 16 people.
The alleged abuse of detainees took place in a garage at the government compound in downtown Belgrade.
Anti-corruption protests swept across Serbia.
Authorities detained nine serving police officers and one former officer over the alleged abuse.
- Detained
- Nine serving police officers and one former officer
- Alleged abuse
- 14-15 August 2025
- Location
- Government-compound garage, downtown Belgrade
- Suspects' unit
- Elite police unit
- Arrest date
- 4 November 2026
3 sources
What people are saying
By the use of force and threats, (they) inflicted great pain and severe suffering on a larger number of persons, intending to obtain information from them and intimidating and unlawfully punishing them