Belgrade, Serbia — October 22, 2025
Serbia’s capital descended into chaos on Wednesday morning when gunfire erupted in front of the National Assembly, at a tent camp organized by President Aleksandar Vučić’s ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS). The encampment — set up by Vučić’s supporters to “defend” the president amid growing political tensions — quickly turned into a scene of flames, panic, and violence, leaving one person wounded and the area engulfed in smoke.
Witnesses described scenes of confusion as tents burned and armed individuals fled the area. Police confirmed at least one arrest, though details of the suspect’s identity have not yet been released. Opposition lawmaker Marinika Tepić stated on X (formerly Twitter):
“Someone fired a gun and then set the tents on fire.”
The incident underscores the increasingly volatile atmosphere in Serbia, where Vučić’s government has spent years cultivating a culture of division, fear, and blind loyalty. Analysts and opposition figures argue that this latest outburst of violence is not an isolated event, but rather the predictable outcome of a regime sustained by propaganda and intimidation.
Instead of acknowledging responsibility for the unrest, Vučić swiftly framed the incident as a “terrorist act.”
“I must apologize for leaving this wonderful meeting. The reason is a terrorist act that occurred in front of the Serbian Parliament,” Vučić declared — once again casting himself as the victim amid violence fueled by his own political machinery.
Critics, however, reject that narrative. They point to the SNS-organized camp itself as a direct manifestation of Vučić’s manipulation of supporters and his relentless campaign to portray himself as under siege. The so-called “defenders of Vučić,” emboldened by months of state-controlled media rhetoric, have now brought their fanaticism to the steps of Parliament — transforming Belgrade’s center into a battleground.
“What happened in front of Parliament is not terrorism,” one opposition commentator said. “It is the inevitable result of a regime built on fear, manipulation, and the cult of one man.”
As smoke cleared over the capital, the deeper crisis remained visible: a Serbia increasingly torn apart by the very forces its president claims to protect it from.
