Serbian journalists protest reported attacks, pressure on media

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Dozens of journalists blocked traffic on Wednesday outside the office of Serbia's populist President Aleksandar Vucic to protest what they say are mounting attacks and pressure on the media in the Balkan country.

The gathering in Belgrade was organized after journalists reporting on local elections in Serbia on Sunday faced attacks during violent incidents that were reported in at least three out of 10 towns where the balloting was held.

“We want to show solidarity with colleagues who were attacked on that day (Sunday) ... but also to stress the ever harder and more dangerous position of journalists in the field,” Serbia's Independent Journalists' Association said in a statement.

The group added that “attacks on journalists are not isolated incidents, they are a systematic blow to the public's right to know.”

International observers said they witnessed violence and irregularities on Sunday.

The vote was seen as a test for Vucic following more than a year of youth-led street protests that have shaken his tight grip on power. His right-wing populist Serbian Progressive Party won in all 10 municipalities.

Around 20 journalists were attacked on Sunday while more than 100 attacks have been recorded this year, the Serbian media association said.

Authorities have promised to investigate but hardly any of the assailants have been held responsible.

Serbia is formally a candidate nation for EU membership, but Vucic has been accused of clamping down on democracy, including media freedoms, while nourishing ties with Russia and China.

Tensions also soared Tuesday when police raided the headquarters of the University of Belgrade, saying they were investigating a student's death. The university said authorities were abusing the case to exert pressure following the student-led protests that first started in November 2024 after a train station tragedy in the country's north.

Thousands gathered later Tuesday outside the rectorate building in downtown Belgrade to protest the police action. Scuffles briefly erupted when police pushed protesters away from the building.

The youth-led movement formed after a railway station canopy collapse in Novi Sad that killed 16. It has posed the biggest challenge to Vucic’s leadership in more than a decade.

Serbian journalists block the traffic outside the offices of Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in protest of mounting attacks and pressure on the media. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Serbian journalists block the traffic outside the offices of Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in protest of mounting attacks and pressure on the media. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Serbian journalists block the traffic outside the offices of Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in protest of mounting attacks and pressure on the media. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Serbian journalists block the traffic outside the offices of Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in protest of mounting attacks and pressure on the media. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

LONDON (AP) — A man charged after a car plowed into a crowd outside a pub in the English city of Derby over the weekend, injuring seven people, appeared in court Wednesday and was jailed pending trial.

Sandhu Ponnachan, 36, appeared in Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court on six counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, one count of attempted grievous bodily harm and one count of possession of a bladed article.

He didn't enter a plea.

Counterterrorism officers assisted local police in the investigation, but Derbyshire police said that is common practice for this type of incident and they were “keeping an open mind” about the incident.

The crash occurred at about 9:30 p.m. Saturday on Friar Gate, a popular night spot in central Derby, a city of about 275,000 people northeast of Birmingham.

The victims, four men and three women, were aged between 36 and 52. Four have been discharged from hospital, Derbyshire police said.

Ponnachan was ordered to appear in Derby Crown Court on April 29.

Forensic investigators work on the scene in Friar Gate, Derby, Sunday March 29, 2026, where a number of people had been injured, some of them seriously, after being hit by a car in the city centre on Saturday night. (Jacob King/PA via AP)

A forensic investigator works on the scene in Friar Gate, Derby, Sunday March 29, 2026, where a number of people had been injured, some of them seriously, after being hit by a car in the city centre on Saturday night. (Jacob King/PA via AP)