European Commission calls on Serbian authorities to conduct a transparent investigation into allegations of protest incident

The European Commission has seen reports of the alleged use of a sound cannon or similar weapons against peaceful protesters in Serbia and calls on the authorities to fully investigate such allegations, said spokesman Guillaume Mercier.

"We have seen reports and allegations of the use of such equipment. We expect a swift, transparent and credible investigation into these allegations and recall that under EU Human Rights Law, authorities must protect all protest participants from harm and violence," Mercier said.

He added that they are closely monitoring the situation, as well as "the protests in Serbia where people have demanded the rule of law and strong and accountable democratic institutions."

The EC has confirmed that they expect Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić in Brussels next week for a meeting with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Videos posted on social media show citizens gathered at a Saturday protest near Slavija Square, during a tribute to those killed in the collapse of a canopy in Novi Sad, who, after hearing the noise, moved to the side en masse.

The event caused panic among citizens, and there is currently no official information about what caused such a reaction among the crowd.

Students on the blockade, who called for a protest on Saturday insisting on determining responsibility for the collapse of a concrete canopy in Novi Sad, accused the authorities of using a sound cannon during a 15-minute silence for the 15 deaths.

Some opposition parties have also accused the government of using sound cannons.

The Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Defense denied the use of a sound cannon at the protest on March 15. These allegations were also rejected by Interior Minister Ivica Dačić and outgoing Prime Minister Miloš Vučević, as well as Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.

The Higher Public Prosecutor's Office (VJT) in Belgrade has ordered the First Basic Public Prosecutor's Office to file a case and identify people who spread information to the public that the Emergency Center on Saturday treated dozens of citizens with ailments that could have been caused by a so-called "sound cannon".

The VJT statement states that they reacted after the Emergency Center of the University Clinical Center of Serbia denied these allegations that appeared on social networks.

The non-governmental organization Belgrade Center for Human Rights announced on March 16 that they had been contacted by a large number of citizens who felt the effects of the sound cannon at Saturday's protest.

It is also stated that citizens felt a strong heat wave, a roar and something resembling the sound of a plane or car going at high speed and then "like some wind moving and knocking them down, as if a rocket had passed by."