Tens of thousands of students and other opponents of Serbia's populist president arrived late Friday in the northern city of Novi Sad to mark the anniversary of a deadly train station disaster last year.

Ahead of the commemorative rally, momentum has been building for major changes in the Balkan country, after nearly a year of student-led anti-government protests that have shaken President Aleksandar Vucic and his grip on power.

Vucic has threatened mass arrests if the mourners turn to violence, and defiantly said his supporters are planning “a much bigger” rally in the city later in November.

Most of the student led-protests have so far been peaceful, with sporadic incidents caused by Vucic supporters.

However, tensions are boiling after a year of protests.

The catalyst for monthslong protests was the deadly collapse of a railway station canopy in Novi Sad on Nov. 1, 2024  which resulted in 16 fatalities.

This incident has been widely attributed to governmental negligence, endemic corruption and shady deals made with Chinese construction companies that took part in the recent renovations of the station.

Initially, the protests began as sporadic demonstrations seeking accountability for the Novi Sad tragedy.

However, they rapidly evolved into a nationwide movement addressing broader issues such as demands for snap elections and major democratic reforms.

The movement has garnered extensive support from various segments of Serbian society.