SUBOTICA/NOVI SAD, June 16 (Hina) - Glass doors on the Croatian consulate-general building in Subotica were smashed Sunday night when Serbia and Montenegro water polo fans' celebration of their team's victory over Croatia got out of
hand.
SUBOTICA/NOVI SAD, June 16 (Hina) - Glass doors on the Croatian
consulate-general building in Subotica were smashed Sunday night
when Serbia and Montenegro water polo fans' celebration of their
team's victory over Croatia got out of hand. #L#
Intoxicated fans threw stones at the consulate building.
Police prevented any further destruction of the building by pooling
the fans and stepping up protection of the Croatian and Hungarian
consulates in Subotica.
Meanwhile, fans smashed 15 shop windows and coffee shops, looted
some of them, damaged two police car and one fire engine in downtown
Novi Sad. Novi Sad authorities on Monday condemned the incidents.
The city government head, Branislav Pomoriski, said "the entire
event was planned by so-called patriotic forces".
Police spokesman Stevan Krstic said police had not reacted fast
enough. The police did not expect incidents because celebration of
sports events in Novi Sad's central square is "a usual event which
has not been followed by incidents thus far".
During last night's disturbances which lasted for hours, one
civilian and 19 police officers were injured. Eleven people were
taken before a magistrate, Krstic told reporters.
He added the incidents were caused by a group of 200 who carried
black flags and a large banner reading "Sljivancanin hero".
(hina) lml