Bridge designed by Einstein's son

Novi Sad, April 1 - The old bridge across the Danube which links Novi Sad with Petrovaradin was destroyed in continuing aggressor NATO's air assaults on Yugoslavia shortly after 5 a.m. Thursday.

A very strong first blast echoed from the direction of the bridge, which is just several meters away from downtown Novi Sad, at 4:55 a.m., and another blast was heard several minutes later.

The detonations gave way to a horrendous picture: the iron construction of the bridge was literally severed from the two pillars, and it crashed into the Danube. The tip of the construction is visible above the waters.

Minutes before the criminal aggressor forces fired their missiles at the bridge which is on the old highway linking Novi Sad and Belgrade, several automobiles and a city bus were approaching the bridge. Thanks to a quick action by police who were securing the bridge, all vehicles were turned back, so that a disaster was avoided.

The strong blasts shattered windows on nearby buildings. Initial reports indicate that there were no casualties in the criminal attack of the NATO air forces. Several citizens of Novi Sad who were on the nearby river banks at the time of the blasts saught medical assistance, but none of them were admitted for treatment.

The Danube banks at this point in Novi Sad host a monument to the victims of a notorious Hungarian fascist raid in southern Backa in 1942, when more than 4,000 Serbs and Jews were slaughtered and their bodies thrown into the Danube. The "Marshal Tito" bridge which has been destroyed by the fascists of the new world order is located about 100 meters from this monument.

Telephone lines with the suburb are severed, so that nothing is known about the extent of the damage caused there by the detonations, or about the situation in Petrovaradin military hospital which is located close to the bridge.

Novi Sad Executive Committee President Caslav Popovic said the destruction of the bridge had also caused a break down in the water supply line for Petrovaradin. Tank trucks will provide water for this district until the water supply is restored.

1999-04-03 Another bridge under attack
1999-04-03 Cruise missiles hit the heart of the Belgrade
1999-04-01 Bridge destroyed, great disaster avoided
1999-03-30 NATO attacks Sloboda factory in Cacak
1999-03-29 Aggressor attacks again