Police officers are accused of torturing and intimidating several persons detained during the protests. (EPA Images pic)BELGRADE: Serbian authorities detained nine active police officers and one former officer on Wednesday for allegedly using excessive force against detainees during anti-corruption protests last year in Belgrade, the country's interior ministry said.

Anti-corruption protests swept across Serbia, a candidate for EU membership, in 2025 and 2026 after 16 people died when a concrete canopy on a renovated railway station in the city of Novi Sad collapsed on Nov 1, 2024.

The protests ultimately resulted in the ouster of the populist Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), which is loyal to ex-President Aleksandar Vucic, in an Oct 25 snap parliamentary election by the leaderless Student List.