Novi Sad student attack — Students in Novi Sad are demanding accountability from authorities after a brutal attack on a female medical student in the city. The incident, which took place in a residential building, has sparked public outcry over the response of local institutions, with students claiming that key questions remain unanswered by the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in Novi Sad.

According to statements from student groups, the victim, identified as Lana, was attacked in the elevator of her building after allowing a man to enter. The assailant reportedly approached her from behind and attempted to strangle her during the elevator ride to the sixth floor. Despite managing to defend herself, Lana’s phone was stolen before the attacker fled the scene.

Students say the attack was classified as robbery, but they argue that the severity of the assault warrants a different legal qualification. They also report that the attacker was not wearing a mask and that the building is equipped with video surveillance. Using the Find My iPhone application, the stolen phone was located and its position relayed to the police. However, students allege that police did not enter the premises where the phone was traced, citing an inability to enter a random house at night. Students dispute this explanation, insisting the location was specific and not random.

Four days after the attack, the suspect had not been found, and students claim that footage from security cameras had not yet been reviewed, while the building manager was reportedly unavailable. In a statement shared by the students, an inspector told Lana that “this was not an ordinary theft. He wanted to kill or rape you.” This has intensified calls for the case to be reclassified and for greater institutional responsibility.

Legal and Institutional Criticism

Lawyer Vladimir Terzić commented that modern technology, such as phone location tracking, should enable law enforcement to act swiftly and effectively. Terzić argued that police had the authority to enter the premises where the phone was located, even without a search warrant, given the circumstances.

The Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in Novi Sad has not responded to media inquiries regarding the legal classification of the incident, the status of the investigation, or whether the suspect has been identified. Students have vowed to continue speaking out until, in their words, “victims are no longer left alone and perpetrators are not free to walk the streets.”