Montenegro Shooting Tragedy: Perpetrator Commits Suicide After Taking 12 Lives
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Belgrade, Jan 2 (NationPress) A tragic shooting incident occurred in Cetinje, Montenegro, on Wednesday, claiming the lives of 12 individuals, including two children. The assailant, Aco Martinovic, ultimately ended his own life.
The violence unfolded across five different locations, with the shooter taking his final actions at a sixth site, as reported by Prosecutor Andrijana Nastic on Thursday.
"We have carried out investigations at all six locations, gathering evidence to clarify the details surrounding this devastating event."
The rampage commenced at a local restaurant, where four men were shot dead. Additional victims included four more individuals at a nearby location and two children at a third site. The spree continued with single fatalities at the fourth and fifth locations, concluding with Martinovic's suicide attempt at the sixth.
According to Minister of Interior Danilo Saranovic, Martinovic initially survived a self-inflicted gunshot wound but succumbed to his injuries while being transported to the Clinical Center of Montenegro.
The motive behind the attack remains unknown. However, police sources indicated that the shooter was likely a socially isolated person, with reports suggesting that some victims were his friends and close acquaintances.
In light of this tragedy, the Montenegrin government has pledged swift action. "Such acts cannot be tolerated. Starting tomorrow, we will implement urgent measures to prevent similar incidents," Saranovic stated, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
Four other individuals sustained injuries, with three in critical condition, as noted by Health Minister Vojislav Simun, who mentioned that medical teams worked throughout the night to provide care, including one patient who underwent late-night surgery.
"We will ensure that psychological support is available to affected families and the wider community in the coming days," Simun added.
The mass shooting has plunged Cetinje and the broader Montenegro into a state of mourning for three days, marking one of the darkest chapters in the nation's recent history. Investigations are ongoing as authorities seek to unravel the events leading up to this tragedy.
A similar horrific event took place in Cetinje in August 2022, when an armed individual killed 10 people before being fatally shot by a local resident.
