Protesters storm TV Informer in Belgrade; police remove owner Dragan J. Vučićević

Several dozen people forced their way into the newsroom of TV Informer in Belgrade on Wednesday evening during a live broadcast of the program "Collegium". The group confronted the channel's editor-owner, Dragan J. Vučićević, demanding explanations for his coverage and for what they described as a campaign of lies.

Confrontation over coverage of a fatal incident

Among those who entered the studio was Dijana Hrka, the mother of Stefan Hrka, who died when the canopy at the Novi Sad railway station collapsed. She and other protesters demanded to know why Vučićević had spread falsehoods about her son and why he had called demonstrators "Ustaše." The atmosphere inside the newsroom grew tense as attendees loudly pressed the editor for answers.

Before demonstrators entered, Vučićević phoned for police protection and also contacted Ilija Srdanović, the lead candidate of the student movement, asking him to calm his supporters and call them away from the television building. Police arrived at the scene while protesters continued to call for Vučićević to be taken out in handcuffs.

Those gathered outside posted a video on social media with the caption "Let's hold Collegium together," a direct reference to the live show. Protesters also demanded that Vučićević apologize to the Serbian public for what they said were repeated deceptions and humiliations in his broadcasts.

TV Informer is regarded as one of the main pro-government outlets associated with President Aleksandar Vučić. The incident underlines continuing public anger over media coverage of recent tragedies and over the treatment of demonstrators by some outlets.

Authorities at the scene attempted to calm tensions and control the crowd as the situation unfolded; there were no immediate reports of serious injuries or arrests while the protesters remained outside and inside the building.

Photo: Printskin od emituvanje vo zhivo na Informer.rs