The Bombing of Kruševac - the Second Attack

On 3 May 1999, NATO bombed Kruševac for the second time, this time directly targeting the city centre and a market full of civilians.

Targeting the market at peak time

The attack was carried out on a Saturday morning, when the market was at its busiest. Cluster bombs were used, covering a large area.

Victims - all shoppers and vendors

12 civilians were killed at the market:

• Dragica Pavlović (62 years old, vegetable vendor)
• Milica Jovanović (58 years old, vendor)
• Gordana Nikolić (45 years old, shopper)
• Svetlana Marković (37 years old, shopper with children)
• Stefan Marković (9 years old, Svetlana's son)
• Milena Marković (6 years old, Svetlana's daughter)
• Dragan Đorđević (55 years old)
• Slavica Petrović (49 years old)
• Milan Kostić (67 years old)
• Vera Simić (71 years old)
• Jovanka Stojanović (64 years old)
• Radmila Ilić (52 years old)

A legitimate target?

A market with civilians can in no way be a "legitimate military target". NATO gave no justification for this attack.

Psychological effect

After this attack, citizens were afraid to leave their homes. The markets were empty for weeks.