A devastating mass shooting has rocked the small Balkan nation of Montenegro, leaving 12 people dead, including two children, and several others injured. The gunman, identified as 45-year-old Aleksandar Martinović, opened fire in a restaurant in the Cetinje area, following a verbal argument with guests.
According to police, the attack began at 17:30 local time, with Martinović killing members of his own family, as well as two children aged 10 and 13, who were the children of the restaurant owner. The owner was also among the victims. The gunman then went on to kill more people at other locations, leaving a trail of destruction and chaos in his wake.
The authorities have confirmed that Martinović had been drinking heavily before the attack, and that he had a history of disturbed interpersonal relations. Interior Minister Danilo Saranovic described the incident as a "consequence of disturbed interpersonal relations," according to AFP news agency.
A massive manhunt was launched to apprehend the gunman, with police releasing an image of Martinović while he was on the run. However, the situation took a tragic turn when Martinović fatally injured himself after being surrounded by police, who had asked him to drop his weapon. He died on the way to hospital.
The government has declared three days of national mourning, starting from Thursday, with Prime Minister Milojko Spajic saying that the shooting had "shrouded our country in black." The prime minister also expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, saying that "there are no words of comfort" for their loss.
The incident has sparked widespread shock and outrage, with many calling for stricter gun control laws in the country. Montenegro's security council is set to urgently consider all options to protect the public, including a complete ban on the possession of weapons. Mass shootings are relatively rare in Montenegro, but this incident has raised concerns about the need for greater vigilance and action to prevent such tragedies in the future.
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