Dacic: Serbian police use only acoustic warning devices

BELGRADE - Caretaker Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said on Wednesday Serbian police had never used any illegal device not permitted under the Law on Police - including a sound cannon - and noted that only acoustic warning devices were used.

At a press conference, Dacic said that, although it had been attacked on several occasions in the past months, the police force had used almost no instrument of enforcement available to it under the law.

"That was also the case on Saturday, March 15. Despite enormous security risks, the entire gathering passed peacefully and I believe the police deserve the most credit for the fact peace and stability have been preserved in Serbia," Dacic said.

Commenting on a statement by Marinika Tepic, an MP of the opposition Freedom and Justice Party, Dacic said it was no news the police had acquired certain acoustic devices and that he, too, had told the parliamentary committee on interior affairs and defence on Tuesday the police had obtained long-range hailing devices in 2021.

He dismissed as untrue allegations the devices had been purchased to be used as sound cannons.

"That is forbidden by our law and that option does not exist," Dacic said.