Mysterious Sound at Serbian Protest Sparks Sonic Weapon Fears
Thousands of people gathered in Belgrade on 15 March to protest against the Serbian government. Among them was Tamara Bojanovski, who recalled hearing a powerful noise behind her, like a large machine moving quickly. The sound sent panic through the crowd as people rushed to the pavements, trying to escape.
Sudden Panic Among Protesters
The strange sound lasted only a few seconds, but it caused confusion and fear. Witnesses described a deep rumble followed by a whooshing noise. Some felt a strong wave-like force, and a few even fainted or fell to the ground.
Lawyer Bozo Prelevic, a former interior minister, said the impact was so strong that people felt unwell. The source of the noise remains unclear, but many now suspect the use of a sonic weapon—an illegal method of crowd control in Serbia.
Conflicting Statements and Investigations
At first, Serbian officials denied owning any sonic devices. Later, Interior Minister Ivica Dacic admitted that the police had bought Long-Range Acoustic Devices (LRADs) from the US in 2021. These devices have been used in countries such as the US, Greece, and Japan to control crowds without lethal force.
Despite this admission, Serbia’s police, military, and intelligence agency all insisted they had not used any such device during the protest.
President Aleksandar Vucic, already facing the country’s largest civil unrest in years, announced that Russian FSB experts were investigating the incident. He also confirmed that US FBI officials would join the probe soon. The US Department of Justice has not commented on the matter.
Experts Weigh In on Possible Sonic Weapon
Human rights group the Omega Foundation reviewed witness reports and video footage. While they found the evidence inconclusive, they did not rule out the use of an LRAD. Neil Corney, a researcher with the organisation, noted how unusual the event was, calling it “distinctive.”
Another group, Earshot, which specialises in audio analysis, suggested the sound might have come from a vortex ring gun. This experimental crowd-control tool uses bursts of air or gas to create a strong force. However, they stressed that further research is required.
Meanwhile, Genasys, the US company that makes LRADs, said the available footage did not support the claim that one of their devices was used during the protest.
Protest Roots and Public Anger
The protest was held in memory of 15 people who died in a tragic train station roof collapse in Novi Sad last November. Many blame the disaster on corruption and poor construction standards.
Public anger over the incident has grown, forcing Prime Minister Milos Vucevic to resign. The event has continued to fuel nationwide protests and increase pressure on President Vucic.
Videos suggest the sound wave travelled over 500 metres down Kralja Milana Street, clearing the road entirely. Epidemiologist Zoran Radovanovic, who was present, said, “The street emptied like when Moses parted the Red Sea.”
As investigations continue, Serbia’s government faces rising public demand for answers.
with inputs from Reuters