Protesting students in Serbia: Novi Sad police used dangerous CN gas
Express newspaper
15/09/2025 8:00
Students of the Faculty of Sciences (PMF) in Novi Sad announced that an independent laboratory analysis showed that on September 5, police used dangerous CN gas on the university campus there against students, professors and citizens, therefore they are demanding an investigation against those responsible for the use of that agent.
Students at the PMF blockade announced on social media that laboratory test results confirmed that the police used CS (2-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile) and CN (chloroacetophenone) gases.
They stated that CN gas can be dangerous to the eyes, cause damage to the cornea and also to the lungs because it is more toxic, which is why it has been removed from use in almost all countries. It was first synthesized in 1871 in Germany, Japan used it against the Chinese during the invasion of Taiwan in 1930 and then, due to its high toxicity, it was replaced by CS gas, writes N1.
“Due to its high toxicity and serious health consequences, CN gas was completely replaced by CS gas in the 1970s, which became a standard means of mass control in police and military practice. Our message is clear: the use of CN gas is not a means of control, but the poisoning of its own citizens,” the statement said.
“We tell the members of the MUP and all relevant authorities that we are ready to submit a portion of our collected samples for additional analysis. We are not afraid of the truth and stand behind our results. Will you finally show courage and transparency or will you continue to hide what the public has the right to know?” the students asked in the announcement.
Students suspected something unusual was happening after they saw members of the police, following the protest and use of force on September 5, using flashlights to collect canisters fired with chemical agents, PMF students said.
They added that because of this, it was decided to collect all available evidence in an organized manner, including the found canisters of discarded chemical agents, in order to subject them to independent analysis and thus clarify whether ordinary tear gas or “other means with illegal and potentially dangerous purposes” were used.
Several dozen unmarked canisters were collected, some canisters clearly show traces of the markings being removed, they specified in the announcement.
During the protest on the evening of September 5, police brutally intervened against demonstrators on the university campus in Novi Sad, and in addition to the demonstrators, several police officers were also seen vomiting after being shot with tear gas. /Kosovapress