Shooter kills 12 in Montenegro small town rampage

A gunman killed 12 people in Montenegro’s Cetinje, one of the nation’s worst mass shootings. Authorities are searching for the suspect as the country mourns this tragic event.

A man shot dead 12 people in a rampage in a small town in Montenegro before dying from self-inflicted injuries early on Thursday, authorities said, in one of the tiny Balkan nation's worst mass killings.

The suspect, 45-year-old Aleksandar Aco Martinovic, opened fire at a restaurant, killing four people, before targeting three other locations, where he killed a family member, two children, and three others. Four additional victims sustained critical injuries.

Authorities said Martinovic, reportedly known for illegal weapons possession, was heavily intoxicated during the attack. He was still at large, prompting police to deploy drones and specialized units for his capture.

Police director Lazar Scepanovic assured that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the suspect.

The attack, unrelated to organized crime, stunned Montenegro, a country of 605,000. Prime Minister Milojko Spajic described it as a “terrible tragedy” and announced three days of national mourning.

President Jakov Milatovic expressed his horror and hopes for the wounded's recovery.

Mass shootings are rare in Montenegro, which has a strong gun culture despite strict laws. The Western Balkans, however, remain flooded with weapons from past conflicts. Spajic suggested stricter firearm regulations, potentially including a total weapons ban.

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Montenegro Cetinje Mass shooting Jakov Milatovic