Vasiljevic: All those who attacked police at Novi Pazar protest will be detained

BELGRADE - Serbia's Police Director Gen Dragan Vasiljevic said on Tuesday all those who had attacked the police during a protest in Novi Pazar, southwestern Serbia, earlier in the day would be detained and held responsible for their actions.

"Right now, police in Novi Pazar are detaining several people who were jeopardising public order and peace, and all of them will be prosecuted, especially those who were attacking the police - who were just doing their jobs, protecting the security of all of us," Vasiljevic said at an extraordinary press conference at the Palace of Serbia in Belgrade in the wake of incidents outside the Novi Pazar State University that followed a decision by the university management to enter the institution's building.

He said the number of people who had gathered outside it never exceeded 200, but that individuals identified as supporters of the local football club, Novi Pazar, had mingled with the student protesters.

"At one point, they lunged at the police and tried to break through a cordon, but failed to do so. Then they started throwing bottles, and the police chief was hit and injured. In the violence, several police officers were injured - some of them more seriously - but no citizens were hurt," Vasiljevic said.

"Then, the police received a reinforcement from the Gendarmerie, and the protesters' attack was beaten back," he said.

"On several occasions, they (the protesters) were warned not to continue the violence, but they did. Then the protesters came with stones and started throwing them, breaking all the windows," Vasiljevic said, noting that anti-Serbia chants heard at the protest were "inappropriate."

"We must respect the state of Serbia, its institutions and its police," he added.