Blic (Belgrade)
March 15, 2005
Hooligans in the streets of Zagreb beating journalists, lawyers and fans
from Serbia
Unfortunately about 30 journalists from Belgrade did not have wings and the
only way to leave the Ice Hall was evacuation in a police van. Some were in
blood, some with injured leg or arm, but all, luckily, in one peace.
The game of Zagreb hooligans 'kill Serb journalist' began somewhat after
15.00 when journalists from Serbia entered Zagreb escorted by the Police.
The drive in a bus with Belgrade registration plates lasted almost 30
minutes. Citizens of Zagreb greeted the journalists with vulgar words,
spitting and photograph of Ante Gotovina. As according to scenario
elaborated in advance at a quarter to 16.00 the Police introduced a bus into
a narrow street from which the journalists were to get to the Square of
sports and Panorama Hotel. Since a large bus could not have passed through
that narrow street, the Police, paying no attention to the guests drove on
leaving the bus at mercy of hooligans who started flocking from cafes, cars,
buildingsâ. Bricks, bottles, even a pair of skies was thrown on the bus.
>From the balconies one could hear 'Kill Serbs'. The Police appeared then,
but instead of protecting the guests they were running for their lives
chased by the mob. Then a group of 300 to 400 hooligans then began savagely
breaking the bus. When it was clear to all that the result will be dead
people in the bus, the riot police appeared.
There is doubt that some of those in charge for order were informing the
hooligans about the route of the bus.
The torture continued in a sport hall. When a first group of journalists
took their seats, attack began. Two journalists were injured. Another group
was pushed in a narrow corridor in front of dressing rooms while the
remaining journalists were at the entrance to the hall. About thirty
journalists from Serbia were closed in a room of about 10 square meters.
After 40 minutes they were transferred in a police van to the hotel.
The only good think was gesture by Croatian photographers, who in solidarity
with journalists from Serbia left the hall and refused to do their job.
Serbian News Network - SNN
[email protected]
http://www.antic.org/
