The Serbian prime minister said on Tuesday that frequent reports of bomb threats across the country aim to put pressure on Serbia from abroad regarding sanctions on Russia.
“We are the only country in Europe that has not imposed sanctions on Russia and the pressures are incredible day by day. These reports of bombs are also pressuring from abroad due to the non-imposition of sanctions on Russia,” said Ana Brnabic.
Brnabic said that not imposing sanctions on Russia proved to be “extremely expensive” because the “main question” for investors was why Serbia has not done so yet.
According to Brnabic, this also slows down the further growth of the country.
After Brnabic’s statements, two new bomb alerts were reported in the shopping malls of the capital Belgrade, causing the evacuation of workers and visitors.
Belgrade Deputy Mayor Goran Vesic said on Tuesday that the reports aim to drive away foreign investors.
“It is clear that this is a hybrid war against Serbia and the goal is to bring instability and unrest to the country and drive away foreign investors,” Vesic noted.
Internal Affairs Minister Aleksandar Vulin earlier said the bomb threats across Serbia are part of a “special war” that aims to prevent the country from pursuing independent policies and force it to take decisions under pressure.
On Monday, education was suspended in Belgrade following reports of bomb threats to primary schools and some high schools.
The Education Ministry confirmed that dozens of schools were evacuated in Belgrade on Monday.
Bomb threats were sent to almost 100 schools, at least one office building, and a communal services company in Belgrade, along with the airport in the southern city of Nis.
Investigations, however, concluded that all reports of bomb threats have been false alarms.
Since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war on Feb. 24, many bomb threats have been reported in Serbia, with the initial ones for Belgrade to Moscow flights, as well as for airports.
Shopping malls and other public buildings have also received bomb threats over the past two months.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has claimed that the foreign intelligence services of Ukraine and an unidentified EU nation are behind the threats.
-AA