Serbian students blockade a Danube bridge overnight as anti-graft movement grows

NOVI SAD, Serbia (AP) — Serbian students on Sunday blocked a bridge over the River Danube in the northern city of Novi Sad for over 24 hours as part of their growing anti-graft movement demanding major changes in the Balkan country.

Dozens of farmers parked their tractors by the Most Slobode, or Freedom Bridge, saying they wanted to guard the students from incidents and potential attacks by sympathizers of Serbia's powerful President Aleksandar Vucic. Novi Sad residents brought them tea and coffee, pancakes, pastry and cooked food.

The protesters decided to extend their protest for three additional hours while they cleaned up the area where they had been holding their colorful rally since Saturday. Thousands of people joined them on Sunday in a continuing show of support.

University students in Serbia are leading a massive anti-corruption movement that was triggered by the Nov. 1. collapse of a concrete canopy at the central train station in Novi Sad, killing 15 people.

Critics believe graft led to a sloppy job during the reconstruction of the train station, poor oversight and disrespect of safety regulations. The issue has come to symbolize a wider discontent over the rule of law in Serbia.

"Well, the only way to end this (protest) is that our all demands are met," said student Lucija Maslakovic. The students have demanded a thorough investigation, the publication of all documents related to the railway station renovation, and punishment for those responsible for the canopy collapse.

Daily protests throughout Serbia pose a major challenge for Vucic. The student-led movement already forced the resignation of Prime Minister Milos Vucevic, Vucic's ally, and the government earlier this week.

In his regular address against the student protests, Vucic on Sunday again delivered a mixed message, offering talks with striking university professors while issuing veiled treats against the demonstrators.

Indirectly accusing the protesters of working for foreign interests with the ultimate goal of toppling him by force, Vucic said on Instagram that the country cannot be ruled by someone chosen from outside the country.

“We don’t need governments imposed from the outside … without elections and without the will of the people,” he said.

Tightly controlled pro-government media have mostly ignored the protests, occasionally carrying fake news and photos that show empty streets and claiming that the Novi Sad rally was a “disaster” because of what they said was low turnout.

The state broadcaster RTS made a surprise exception on Saturday and carried live coverage of the protest in Novi Sad that was attended by tens of thousands.

Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party was quick to react, strongly condemning the “scandalous coverage" of the bridge blockades. The party said state TV had “violated all the rules and values ​​of objective and impartial journalism with its scandalous reports."

The students stayed at one of the Novi Sad bridges through the night after blocking all three city bridges on Saturday. Tens of thousands of people joined in on Saturday, swarming the streets in further pressure on the governing populists.

“I support them fully. I can’t believe how well they are organized, mature and good,” said Jelena Djordjevic, a university professor from Novi Sad. “They are just incredible.”

The student protest has struck a chord in graft-plagued Serbia, where few citizens feel that state institutions, which are firmly under populist control, are working in the public interest. Many believe that the collapse was essentially caused by government corruption in a large infrastructure project with Chinese state companies.

To pass the time on Saturday evening and overnight, the students played basketball and volleyball, listened to music, played chess or card games. In the morning, they could be seen clearing the garbage ahead of more protests.

Hundreds had walked from Belgrade to Novi Sad for two days ahead of the blockades.

At 11:52 p.m. on Saturday, the protesters held 15 minutes of silence for the 15 dead in the Nov. 1 canopy collapse. Two children were among the victims.

Associated Press writers Jovana Gec and Dusan Stojanovic in Belgrade, Serbia, contributed to this report.

Students wave next to the banner reading "Students will set the World free" as they block the Bridge of Freedom and protest over the collapse of a concrete canopy that killed 15 people more than two months ago, in Novi Sad, Serbia, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

Students hold a heart-shaped balloon as they prepare to end the blockage of the Bridge of Freedom and protest over the collapse of a concrete canopy that killed 15 people more than two months ago, in Novi Sad, Serbia, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

An aerial view of people blocking the Bridge of Freedom during a protest over the collapse of a concrete canopy that killed 15 people more than two months ago, in Novi Sad, Serbia, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

A man holds up his mobile phone light during a minute of silence ceremony as he protests over the collapse of a concrete canopy that killed 15 people more than two months ago, in Novi Sad, Serbia, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

People hold up their mobile phone lights during a minute of silence ceremony as they block the bridge and protest over the collapse of a concrete canopy that killed 15 people more than two months ago, in Novi Sad, Serbia, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

People hold up their mobile phone lights during a minute of silence ceremony as they block the bridge and protest over the collapse of a concrete canopy that killed 15 people more than two months ago, in Novi Sad, Serbia, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

People hold up their mobile phone lights as tens of thousands gather for a protest over the collapse of a concrete canopy that killed 15 people more than two months ago, in Novi Sad, Serbia, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

People hold up their mobile phone lights as tens of thousands gather for a protest over the collapse of a concrete canopy that killed 15 people more than two months ago, in Novi Sad, Serbia, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

People hold up their mobile phone lights during a protest over the collapse of a concrete canopy that killed 15 people more than two months ago, in Novi Sad, Serbia, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

People hold up their mobile phone lights as tens of thousands gather for a protest over the collapse of a concrete canopy that killed 15 people more than two months ago, in Novi Sad, Serbia, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

People rest at a park, while a protest was being held over the collapse of a concrete canopy that killed multiple people more than two months ago, in Novi Sad, Serbia, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

An aerial view of people blocking the Bridge of Freedom during a protest over the collapse of a concrete canopy that killed 15 people more than two months ago, in Novi Sad, Serbia, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

A man stands during a minute of silence ceremony as he protests over the collapse of a concrete canopy killed multiple people more than two months ago, in Novi Sad, Serbia, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

People hold up their mobile phone lights during a minute of silence ceremony as they block the bridge during a protest over the collapse of a concrete canopy that killed multiple people more than two months ago, in Novi Sad, Serbia, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela’s government accused the United States of attacking civilian and military installations in multiple states after at least seven explosions and low-flying aircraft were heard around 2 a.m. local time Saturday in the capital, Caracas.

The Pentagon and White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Smoke could be seen rising from the hangar of a military base in Caracas. Another military installation in the capital was without power.

People in various neighborhoods rushed to the streets. Some could be seen in the distance from various areas of Caracas.

“The whole ground shook. This is horrible. We heard explosions and planes,” said Carmen Hidalgo, a 21-year-old office worker, her voice trembling. She was walking briskly with two relatives, returning from a birthday party. “We felt like the air was hitting us.”

Venezuela’s government, in the statement, called on its supporters to take to the streets.

“People to the streets!” the statement said. “The Bolivarian Government calls on all social and political forces in the country to activate mobilization plans and repudiate this imperialist attack.”

The statement added that President Nicolás Maduro had “ordered all national defense plans to be implemented” and declared “a state of external disturbance.”

This comes as the U.S. military has been targeting, in recent days, alleged drug-smuggling boats. On Friday, Venezuela said it was open to negotiating an agreement with the U.S. to combat drug trafficking.

Maduro also said in a pretaped interview aired Thursday that the U.S. wants to force a government change in Venezuela and gain access to its vast oil reserves through the monthslong pressure campaign that began with a massive military deployment to the Caribbean Sea in August.

Maduro has been charged with narco-terrorism in the U.S. The CIA was behind a drone strike last week at a docking area believed to have been used by Venezuelan drug cartels in what was the first known direct operation on Venezuelan soil since the U.S. began strikes on boats in September.

U.S. President Donald Trump for months had threatened that he could soon order strikes on targets on Venezuelan land. The U.S. has also seized sanctioned oil tankers off the coast of Venezuela, and Trump ordered a blockade of others in a move that seemed designed to put a tighter chokehold on the South American country’s economy.

The U.S. military has been attacking boats in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean since early September. As of Friday, the number of known boat strikes is 35 and the number of people killed is at least 115, according to numbers announced by the Trump administration.

They followed a major buildup of American forces in the waters off South America, including the arrival in November of the nation’s most advanced aircraft carrier, which added thousands more troops to what was already the largest military presence in the region in generations.

Trump has justified the boat strikes as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs into the U.S. and asserted that the U.S. is engaged in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels.

Meanwhile, Iranian state television reported on the explosions in Caracas on Saturday, showing images of the Venezuelan capital. Iran has been close to Venezuela for years, in part due to their shared enmity of the U.S.

Pedestrians walk past the Miraflores presidential palace after explosions and low-flying aircraft were heard in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Cristian Hernandez)

Residents evacuate a building near the Miraflores presidential palace after explosions and low-flying aircraft were heard in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Cristian Hernandez)

Smoke raises at La Carlota airport after explosions and low-flying aircraft were heard in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Pedestrians run after explosions and low-flying aircraft were heard in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Smoke raises at La Carlota airport after explosions and low-flying aircraft were heard in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Smoke raises at La Carlota airport after explosions and low-flying aircraft were heard in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Pedestrians run after explosions and low-flying aircraft were heard in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)