Thousands of anti-government protesters returned to the streets of Belgrade on Thursday after two days of clashes with loyalists of autocratic President Aleksandar Vucic and riot police that left dozens injured or detained.

Police in the evening fired tear gas in at least two locations to disperse the protesters and keep groups of supporters of the opposing camps apart.

Protesters in a downtown area scrambled in panic, some tumbling to the ground as they tried to run away.

Vucic told pro-government Informer television that “the state will win” as he announced a crackdown on anti-government protesters, accusing them of inciting violence and of being “enemies of their own country.”

“I simply think now is the moment where we should all get out and show that we aren’t frightened, and that their attempts to use violence to stop the people’s and the students’ protests will not work,” said protester and Belgrade resident Aleksa Petkovic.

AP Video shot by Marko Drobnjakovic