Thousands gathered in Novi Sad to mark the victims of the canopy collapse at the city’s railway station. The disaster occurred on 1 November last year and killed 16 people. The rally also served as a broad display of discontent with President Aleksandar Vučić’s government, and followed a year of youth-led protests that have challenged his grip on power.

Protesters say that corruption and nepotism in state infrastructure projects with China contributed to safety breaches. Thirteen people have been charged over the disaster. University student Nadja Solaja told the crowd that the disaster was a “crime and murder” and not an accident, adding that if authorities had respected the law “there would not have been blood.” She noted that the slogan “They have blood on their hands” has become a hallmark of the protests, alongside a red hand print.

Dijana Hrka, mother of Stefan Hrka, one of the victims, said she would launch a hunger strike in Belgrade on Sunday, insisting that those responsible be identified and held to account. Saturday’s ceremonies began with 16 minutes of silence at 11:52am for the 16 victims, with wreaths laid and candles lit outside the station. Authorities cancelled train services to Novi Sad, and protesters arrived by car, bike or on foot. Vučić attended a church service in Belgrade for the victims as the government declared a day of mourning. The EU’s enlargement commissioner Marta Kos said the canopy tragedy is changing Serbia, moving people to demand accountability, free expression and inclusive democracy, the values needed for Serbia to join the EU. On Friday evening, thousands of mainly young people who had walked from across the country over the past two weeks arrived in Novi Sad to join the rally, with many crying as they greeted the arriving students who had walked up to 240 miles.