Protesters in Belgrade’s capital, Serbia, have reported hearing a loud, jarring noise during a recent demonstration against the government. The incident sparked concerns that an illegal sonic weapon, known as a “sonic cannon,” was used to disperse the crowd.
On Saturday evening, a large group of protesters gathered at a cultural center in Belgrade to observe a 15-minute silence for the 15 people killed in a railway station collapse. However, just as they began the quiet, a loud noise shattered the calm atmosphere.
The crowd panicked and surged towards the pavement. Many thought it was an emergency vehicle with no sirens, but rumors quickly emerged that a sonic device had been deployed against them. Serbian officials have denied these claims, stating that security forces did not use a military-grade LRAD to silence the protesters.
Military Brigadier General Slavko Rakić told Serbia’s state-owned broadcaster RTS that the noise was likely caused by an amplified sound recording. He emphasized that the effect achieved is far from what would be produced by a sonic cannon.
However, eyewitnesses described feeling vertigo-like sensations and reported hearing sounds similar to those of a Formula One race or an airplane flying low overhead. The incident has raised concerns about the potential use of sonic devices in suppressing public gatherings.
Serbian NGOs have corroborated the protesters’ accounts, stating that there was a strong sonic boom during the protest, causing physical and psychological reactions among those present. Despite the denial from authorities, the protesters remain undeterred, with many saying that they will continue to participate in demonstrations until justice is served for the victims of the railway station collapse.
The incident highlights the ongoing tensions between the government and the public in Serbia, with large-scale protests expected to resume soon.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqjdpy8dyzzo