Brnabic: Collapse of Train Station Canopy Was a Planned Act of Sabotage

Ana Brnabic (BETAPHOTO/MILAN OBRADOVIC)

The Serbian speaker, Ana Brnabic, stated on Aug. 18 that the concrete canopy at Novi Sad’s central railway station that collapsed on Nov. 1 and killed 16 people, was actually "demolished to launch a color revolution."

"I do not think the canopy just fell, nor that it was an accident, a tragedy, or the result of any act of negligence in that regard. I believe it was a planned act of sabotage," Brnabic said in an interview with Pink TV.

Brnabic added that everything had been organized and prepared in advance and that it was all part of a "plan to destroy Serbia."

Lawyer Nikola Lakic told BETA that Brnabic had just committed the criminal offense defined under the Serbian Criminal Code as "causing panic and disorder," which carries a prison sentence of up to five years. She must be questioned immediately regarding her allegations, the lawyer said, adding that she was not only openly mocking the victims, but also interfered with  an ongoing investigation while serving as Serbia’s speaker.

Responding to her statement, the informal network of professors Akademski Plenum warned that such claims, "made without any evidence, disturbed the public and spread panic," which was why the competent prosecutor's office should question the speaker, the Plenum said in an appeal.

A vice-president of the Freedom and Justice Party, Marinika Tepic, said that Brnabic shared  "fabrication about the canopy sabotage " in agreement with President Aleksandar Vucic.

A co-president of the Green-Left Front, Radomir Lazovic, said that Brnabic "has just directly accused citizens of being responsible for the collapse of the railway station canopy in Novi Sad" and that the authorities "have apparently decided that this would be their official position."