During Saturday’s large demonstration, protesters observed a 15-minute silent period when they suddenly became alarmed and dispersed after hearing a sharp noise. Certain specialists believe this was caused by a sonic device known as a sound cannon; however, officials have refuted these claims.

Throughout Saturday, hundreds of thousands of citizens walked through central Belgrade. The biggest student demonstration in Serbia since the beginning of the protests last November. .

The largely peaceful gathering When the clock struck seven hours into the event, students requested everyone present to join a solemn 15-minute silence to pay tribute to the 15 individuals who lost their lives. The roof above the entryway of Novi Sad railway station fell down on November 1. .

Individuals illuminated the night with their phone lights, and everybody became hushed.

Next, exactly at 7:11 p.m., chaos broke loose when an abrupt loud sound appeared from thin air, causing individuals to scatter.

Certain clips posted on social platforms depict crowds abruptly dividing into separate factions or individuals rapidly dispersing in fear, as if they were under pursuit.

Intense panic and disorientation

It was akin to a wild rumble, similar to a plane passing above us," said Miroslav Lukic to Sport Bangjo. "However, it wasn’t overwhelmingly loud—it was more of an ominous sound from afar.

"As if an aircraft were descending, heading from the vicinity of the Presidential Palace," stated Dusan Simin.

Bojana Milanovic stated to Sport Bangjo that she felt large armored vehicles were coming near.

"As though an unseen force had pushed us apart to either side,” remembered Jelena Ristanovic. “Vision failed to capture anything, yet the body experienced overwhelming panic and disorientation.”

A loud, peculiar sound accompanied by tremors

Sports Bjanko spoke with roughly a dozen individuals who were out on the streets in central Belgrade on Saturday night. Each person recounted hearing a sudden, intense, unusual sound accompanied by tremors that gave them an impression of impending peril.

Dusan Simin stated, 'We were trapped, completely unsure of how to proceed. There was no telling whether an object might drop on our heads or if we’d get struck from the side. People tripped over each other. My wife collided with a pole, injuring her head. Despite witnessing everything, I couldn’t offer assistance. The experience left us feeling anxious even after all this time.'

Jelena Ristanovic felt disoriented as well: "At the time, I instinctively pulled the hood of my jacket over my head," she recounted. "For a moment, my legs couldn’t support me."

"I was really scared, and I ran about 20–30 meters," said Miroslav Lukic. "When a man next to me started yelling 'They can't kill us all,' I came to my senses and began to look around to see what was happening."

Bojana Milanovic recounted her confusion and panic: "I didn’t know where to seek shelter, and it seemed as though someone was pursuing us," she stated. "Once we halted and realized everything was fine, we exchanged glances and questioned ourselves about what could have occurred."

Were sonic cannons used?

Milanovic is not alone in this sentiment: The people of Serbia are all curious about what disrupted the 15-minute silent observance in Belgrade on Saturday.

Military analyst Aleksandar Radic was among the earliest to propose that what is known as a " sound cannon had been employed against the demonstrators.

The responses from the crowd indicate that they were impacted by infrasound," he said to Sport Bangjo. "Several individuals exhibited signs consistent with this condition. An indirect indication of this was that pro-government advocates who assembled at Pionirski Park received umbrellas meant to shield them from low-frequency noises.

This theory is supported by Professor Zoran Maksimovic of the Faculty of Dramatic Arts at the University of Arts in Belgrade, who teaches courses related to sound.

"It's basically just a regular speaker, but specially designed to be directed and extremely loud. It has a very long range—up to several kilometers," he explained to Sport Bangjo.

Maksimovic indicates that this speaker can play music,speech, a sound effect such as a passing jet, or a specially crafted frequency signal.

Was it perhaps a vortex cannon?

Nevertheless, specialists from the global organization Earshot assert that according to their examination of recordings supplied by the Center for Research, Transparency and Accountability (CRTA), the audio matches the sounds generated by a Vortex Ring Gun or Vortex Cannon.

As reported, this weapon releases gas from a cylinder at an extremely high velocity, generating a sound akin to that of a jet engine.

However, Maksimovic expresses skepticism towards this theory since these devices are typically big and cumbersome. In contrast, he points out that the "sound cannon" is available in multiple versions and can be easily handled by an individual.

Is the usage of this device considered legal?

Radic supports his hypothesis by asserting that Serbia acquired a sound cannon from the U.S.-based company Genesis in 2022.

The transaction involved a U.S.-based corporation selling it to an Israeli firm, which subsequently transferred it to a private Serbian entity. This Serbian company later sold it to Jugoimport, a state-controlled organization tasked with acquiring critical materials," claimed Radic during an interview with Sport Bangjo. He also mentioned that supporting documents verifying these transactions do exist, though they remain classified.

However, does this mean that officials were justified in using such a tool against demonstrators? Radic contends that they were not, since it is not included in the roster of devices approved for managing crowds under Serbia’s Internal Affairs Act.

In 2022, the government tried to modify this law, however, the proposed amendments were not approved.

The genuine concern regarding legitimacy lies in the fact that no previous notice was provided nor an explanation offered for deploying such equipment," stated Radic. "A notification should precede the use of any law enforcement authority. Additionally, the contentious aspect is that this instrument was employed while individuals were at ease.

Vučić dismisses allegations as falsehoods

So far, all Serbian authorities have denied that any acoustic weaponry was used on Saturday.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has said that neither the Serbian Army nor the Military Police Special Unit "Cobras" possess a sound cannon.

He has committed to looking into individuals who he says are disseminating false information regarding the utilization of such a weapon. He also points fingers at groups like CRTA and Earshot, accusing them of deceit.

CRTA is a non-governmental organization primarily supported by funding from Britain, America, Switzerland, Sweden, and various other sources," Vucic shared on Instagram. "Your attempts to undermine Serbia through falsehoods will not succeed. We will not allow you to evade responsibility for spreading untruths regarding the acoustic cannon.

The former Prime Minister Milos Vucevic, who stepped down at the conclusion of January He has stated that the authorities are prepared to formally extend an invitation to both the US Federal Bureau of Investigation and Russia's Federal Security Service, known as the FSB, to come to Serbia for investigating these allegations.

At the same time, pro-government media outlets are citing security services as saying that the chaos was triggered by student organizers. However, students have refuted these assertions.

People seek medical assistance

In the days after the rally, many sought medical assistance for ongoing symptoms.

"I visited the physician on Sunday as I was feeling frail and uncomfortable," stated Bojana Milanovic for Sport Bangjo. "The individuals in the waiting area mentioned experiencing dizziness, struggling with breath intake, and having rapid heartbeats. Numerous others reported tinnitus and auditory issues," she added.

According to media reports, law enforcement officials have gone to healthcare facilities and medical offices following citizen grievances, gathering testimonies and taking photographs of relevant documents.

Two physicians verified to Sport Bangjo that law enforcement officials had arrived, adding that their focus was primarily on treating patients and thus they couldn’t provide precise details about the actions of the officers.

Dusan Simin's spouse, who collided with a pole amid the turmoil and injured her head, was administered medicine and directed to see a psychiatrist.

Simin intends to pursue legal recourse. He stated, "We will strive for justice," adding, "since what occurred truly was not within the bounds of normality."

Edited by: Aingeal Flanagan

Author: Sanja Kljajic (based in Novi Sad)