A silent protest in Serbia demands responsibility for the roof collapse that killed fourteen people

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Residents in northern Serbia halted traffic and stood in silence Friday to remember the 14 victims of a railway roof collapse two weeks ago and demand responsibility for the tragedy.

Dozens of protesters held a large black banner and blocked intersections outside the main train station in the city of Novi Sad, where the outer roof of the building suddenly collapsed on November 1, killing 14 people and injuring three.

Many in Serbia blamed the accident on rampant corruption, which they said led to shoddy work on the renovation of the station building. The 60-year-old building has been renovated twice in recent years and inaugurated by top officials of the Balkan country.

Authorities have promised a thorough investigation and the Serbian government’s construction minister has resigned. But no arrests have been made and critics have accused populist authorities of shirking responsibility.

Thousands of people have attended protests in both Novi Sad and Belgrade over the past two weeks. Many in Serbia are skeptical that anyone will be punished for this tragedy, as the populist government has a tight grip on both the police and the judiciary.

Opposition lawmakers in Belgrade joined the silent protest on Friday by blocking traffic outside the parliament building in the capital for 14 minutes. In Novi Sad, a group of activists also released black balloons symbolizing the fourteen victims.

Among the victims of the roof collapse was a 6-year-old girl. The three injured all underwent amputation surgery and are still in life-threatening condition.