Serbians clash with police over train station disaster

NOVI SAD, Serbia — Thousands of Serbian opposition backers rallied on Tuesday in the northwestern city of Novi Sad in a violent protest over a deadly accident at a local railway station, for which they blame negligence and corruption by the government.

The disaster happened on Friday when roofing along the entrance to the station suddenly collapsed, killing 14 people and severely injuring three.

Police used pepper spray to disperse the crowd, after protesters broke windows at the entrance of the 19th-century city hall in the city center, threw flares and firecrackers inside and spilled liquid manure from a cistern.

Earlier, masked demonstrators hurled eggs, bottles and bricks at an office of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).

“People are very angry … this is a great sorrow,” said Radomir Lazovic, an opposition parliamentary deputy who joined the protest.