Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Zagreb on Saturday for a concert by renowned Croatian rock singer Marko Perkovic Thompson, in what was billed as the largest paid concert ever.
"E, moj narode", "Kletvu kralja Zvonimira" and "Bosnu" were some of the songs he performed.
Thompson appeared on stage wearing a jersey bearing the number "03941158". And as "Jutarnji" wrote, this is not the first time he has worn this number. He dedicates this number to Zvonko Bušić, to whom he also dedicated the song "Duh ratnika". Bušić was one of the people who had taken hostage the plane with 76 passengers on the New York - Chicago flight in 1976. The purpose of the hostage-taking was to throw letters from the plane explaining the case of Croatia in the then Yugoslavia and calling for independence by fighting Serbian hegemony. In 1977, he was sentenced to life imprisonment. He was pardoned after spending 32 years in prison. As a prisoner, he had the number "03941158".
Police have announced that over 450 tickets have been sold for the concert. The entire city has been blocked off, while over 6200 police officers have been deployed to ensure security.
Thompson, who has been banned from concerts in several European countries, including the Netherlands, Switzerland and Bosnia, is accused of holding supportive positions for the Nazi-backed World War II Ustasha government in Croatia.
The singer, who took his nickname from the American Thompson submachine gun he used in the war during the 90s, has rejected claims that his songs support Nazism.
The Ustashi are accused of murdering Jews, Serbs, and Roma in the period 1941-1945.
Thompson has previously said that his songs represent love for God, family, hometown and people.
On the streets of Zagreb, fans headed to the concert with Croatian flags.
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