Montenegro was plunged into mourning after a gunman unleashed a deadly rampage in the town of Cetinje on Wednesday, killing at least ten people and leaving four others with life-threatening injuries.
According to Reuters, the perpetrator, identified by authorities as Aleksandar Martinovic, had a history of illegal weapons possession and was heavily intoxicated at the time of the shooting.
The violence was reportedly sparked by a brawl involving gunfire.
Martinovic, 45, began his spree at a restaurant, fatally shooting four people. He then moved through the town, targeting a family member, two children, and five others across three separate locations.
As Martinovic fled through Cetinje, police deployed special anti-terror units and drones equipped with thermal imaging to track him. Hours later, cornered near his home, he attempted to take his own life and soon after succumbed to the self-inflicted injuries while being transported to the hospital, Interior Minister Danilo Saranovic confirmed on Thursday.
Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajic called the incident a “terrible tragedy” and declared three days of national mourning. President Jakov expressed his horror, extending prayers for the recovery of the injured and solidarity with the victims’ families in a post on X.
“Instead of festive joy, sadness over the loss of innocent lives hangs over our Capital and all of Montenegro”, Milatovic mentioned in his post, in Montenegrin.
Mass shootings are rare in Montenegro but not unprecedented. In 2022, an attack in Cetinje claimed 11 lives, including two children and the gunman. Despite strict gun laws, the Western Balkans region, including Montenegro, remains heavily armed, with many weapons dating back to conflicts from the 1990s or even earlier.
Prime Minister Spajic indicated that the government would consider stricter measures for firearm ownership, including a potential complete ban.
