Member of Serbian Parliament Marinika Tepic on Wednesday told a press conference that the Serbian Internal Affairs Ministry (MUP) has purchased as many as seven LRAD 450XL devices, which she described as tools for psychological and physical intimidation of people on the streets.

Tepic presented an official document clearly showing the Ministry’s request for the procurement of these sound cannons of two types, totaling 16 units – seven of type 450XL and nine of type 100.

The total cost was 81 million dinars (1 euro – 117 dinars), said the MP from the opposition Party of Freedom and Justice.

“It is also untrue, as government representatives claim, that only siren-like sounds can be emitted from these sound cannons. Any audio recording can be captured and uploaded, including sounds of airplanes or various noises that were referenced by citizens who participated in the protests,” emphasized Tepic.

She explained that the procurement of these devices was conducted through direct contracting during the term of office of Aleksandar Vulin. Vulin is the incumbent Serbian Deputy Prime Minister, but also served as the defense minister (2017 – 2020), internal affairs minister (2020 – 2022), and director of the Security Intelligence Agency (BIA) (December 2022 – November 2023).

Tepic also presented the specification of the equipment offered by the company “Romax Trade,” which provided these sound cannons of varying intensities at the Ministry’s request. The state-owned company SDPR was responsible for preparing the contract.

“As serious and responsible people, we will not stop here, what is happening is unacceptable. We caught one sound cannon here in front of the Parliament, but where are the other six?” Tepic asked.

The 15- minute moment of silence for the victims of the November 1 Novi Sad train station tragedy at the March 15 mass protest rally in Belgrade was interrupted when the crowd surged toward the pavement in panic after hearing what witnesses described as a loud noise approaching from behind, similar to a vehicle or an airplane.

Serbian Internal Affairs Minister Ivica Dacic confirmed for Danas that the police have sonic weapons, commonly referred to as “sound cannons,” which were acquired in 2021 and are owned by the Internal Affairs Ministry.

“These systems are sitting in our storage facilities in boxes. They are indeed owned by the Internal Affairs Ministry, but they have not been put into use, nor have they been mounted on any of our vehicles or systems,” said Dacic.

Dacic previously told the Serbian Parliament’s Defense and Internal Affairs Committee that the police have an LRAD100X which he claimed was bought to use for voice messages and not sonic waves. He added that the weapon was never on the list of weapons used by the Serbian Internal Affairs Ministry.