Shooting And Fire Rock Pro-Government Camp In Serbia, President Calls It ‘Terrorist Act’

Key Facts

Published: October 23, 2025 Location: BELGRADE/BUDAPEST Source: Wire Services

• A man in his 70s opened fire and started a blaze at a pro-government camp outside Serbia’s parliament, injuring one person before being detained.
• President Aleksandar Vučić called the attack a “terrorist act” aimed at destabilizing Serbia, while opposition leaders said it reflected deepening unrest.
• The violence follows weeks of anti-government protests sparked by a deadly station roof collapse in Novi Sad that killed 14 people.
• The incident underscores Serbia’s growing political polarization and could further strain its ties with Western partners amid warnings of democratic backsliding.

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief

BELGRADE/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Serbian authorities said at least one man was injured Wednesday after gunfire and a fire erupted at a camp of government supporters outside the national parliament, prompting President Aleksandar Vučić to call the incident a “terrorist act.”

Police detained a man in his 70s who allegedly fired shots into a tent before flames broke out at the site, which has hosted a round-the-clock vigil of Vučić supporters for weeks. The suspect reportedly told investigators he was “frustrated by the tents” and hoped police would shoot him, according to local media.

The injured man was hospitalized, and firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze.

In a televised address, President Vučić said the attack was “not random,” describing it as “a terrorist act meant to destabilize Serbia and intimidate citizens who support peace and stability.”

He pledged a full investigation and said the authorities would “respond firmly and lawfully.”

Opposition leaders rejected Vučić’s characterization, saying the incident reflected “the growing unrest and polarization” in the country after months of mass demonstrations over corruption, governance, and public safety.

PROTESTS SPARKED BY STATION ROOF COLLAPSE

The shooting came amid rising political tensions tied to ongoing anti-government protests that erupted after a railway station roof collapse in Novi Sad on November 1, 2024, which killed at least 14 people and injured dozens more.

The tragedy, in which a massive concrete canopy gave way during rush hour, was blamed by critics on corruption, poor construction oversight, and official negligence. It became a rallying point for a broad opposition coalition accusing the government of mismanagement and lack of accountability.

Demonstrators have since staged nationwide protests demanding resignations of senior officials, tighter building safety standards, and early elections.

The latest violence near parliament underscores Serbia’s deep political divide. Vučić’s ruling Serbian Progressive Party has faced accusations of authoritarianism and media control, while the opposition says the government is using police and propaganda to suppress dissent.

Western diplomats have urged restraint on all sides amid fears that mounting hostility could trigger further clashes in a region still marked by memories of the Balkan wars of the 1990s.

The European Union and international rights groups have repeatedly warned of democratic backsliding in Serbia.

The shooting could further strain Serbia’s relations with Western partners as Vučić balances his pro-EU agenda with close ties to Russia and China, according to a Worthy News analysis.

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