ANEM calls police, prosecutors to react to threats against N1

A press release said that threats and verbal abuse were included in comments on the N1 portal. One of the threatening posts said that a bombing of N1 was being prepared and that Ustashi have to be thrown out. The term Ustashe refers to WW 2 Croatian fascists and has been used for media and individuals that the Serbian regime views as enemies.

ANEM said the comments were direct threats, jeopardizing journalists and other staff and called the authorities to immediately investigate, identify the authors of the threats and punish them.

N1 reporters and TV crews were assaulted verbally and physically more than 40 times between November 2024 and the end of September.

ANEM said that the threats and assaults are caused by years of the media being targeted by top state officials, including the president. “The verbal assaults and labeling journalists as traitors, accusations of terrorism and other impermissible statements are actually serious lies carried by the tabloids close to the authorities that are continuing negative campaigns against journalists,” it said.

According to ANEM N1 has been the media outlet that is worst affected by threats and attacks on its journalists. “The impunity is concerning… The brutality and frequency of the threats and assaults demand much greaters efficiency by the police and prosecutors. “We are calling the Internal Affairs Ministry (MUP) to secure the N1 building and prevent the possible attacks stated in the threats,” ANEM Board Chairman Veran Matic said.