Tens of thousands of Serbs protested on Friday demanding improved security, a ban on violent television content and the resignation of key ministers after two mass attacks killed 17 people, Reuters reported. Protesters also blocked highways in Belgrade.

In the second such demonstration in less than a week, crowds blocked a key boulevard and highway junction in Belgrade and a bridge over the Sava river, marching under a black banner reading “Serbia against violence”.

“For me (the message of the protest) first of all, stop the violence. I am here for my daughter and all our children,” said 40-year-old protester Boyana.

During the country’s first mass attack on May 4, a 13-year-old boy killed eight students and a security guard, injuring six more students and a teacher.

Only a day later, a 21-year-old boy killed eight people and wounded 14 more with a machine gun. Both attackers surrendered to the police.

The protesters – mostly opposition supporters – want to shut down pro-government TV stations and tabloids, which they accuse of promoting violent and vulgar content.

“This (message) is against violence at all levels, from the media to the parliament to what happens on the streets,” said Velimir Jerkic, a protester in Belgrade.

Opposition parties and human rights activists accuse President Aleksandar Vučić and the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) of autocracy, suppression of the media, violence against political opponents, corruption and ties to organized crime.

Vucic and his allies deny the allegations.

Oleksandr Vuchich also announces rallies

Earlier in the day, Vucic accused the opposition of “playing with people’s emotions” and called on his loyalists across Serbia for a large rally on May 26.

“We are calling people to tell them what we are going to do in the future … we are not going to stop traffic or disrupt people in any way,” he told reporters.

Demonstrators also demanded the resignation of Interior Minister Bratislav Hasic and Director of the State Security Agency Alexander Vulin, as well as the dismissal of the government’s Committee for the Regulation of Electronic Media (REM).

Similar rallies were held in other cities of Serbia.

How many weapons did the Serbs voluntarily surrender after the ultimatum given by the government

In response to the attacks, the Serbian police on Monday issued an ultimatum for one month to surrender illegal weapons.

Vucic said that about 10,000 weapons have already been transferred, including anti-tank grenade launchers, explosives and tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition.

Serbia has a deep-rooted gun culture and, like the rest of the Western Balkans, is full of military weapons left in private hands after the 1990s wars that tore Yugoslavia apart. However, mass attacks are rare.