12 killed in mass shooting in Montenegro, suspect kills himself
Two children were among at least 12 people killed in a mass shooting that started at a restaurant in the small town of Cetinje in Montenegro and continued at three different locations.
The shooter used an assault rifle to carry out the attack, which took place in a residential area of Cetinje.
Authorities are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The police launched an hours-long manhunt for the suspect, who shot himself in the head when surrounded. An attempt was made to transport him to a clinical center, but the suspect succumbed to his injuries in the meantime, according to police chief Lazar Scepanovic, who briefed reporters on the incident.
The killing spree, which began around 5:30 p.m. local time (16:30 GMT) in Bajice village near Cetinje, saw the 45-year-old gunman kill at least 10 people, two of whom were aged 10 and 13, including members of his own family. Interior Minister Danilo Saranovic described the event, with Prime Minister Milojko Spajic calling it “a terrible tragedy” that has struck the community in Cetinje.
Four people were seriously wounded and transported to a hospital in the capital, Podgorica. However, police chief Scepanovic later stated that their lives were “no longer in danger.” Scepanovic added that the suspect “had consumed alcoholic beverages all day” before an altercation occurred between him and another restaurant guest. The suspect then “went home, took a weapon, used firearms, and killed four people at one location,” before proceeding to three other places, according to Scepanovic’s account.
Following the tragic incident, the government declared three days of national mourning starting Thursday. Authorities have released information about the shooter, identifying him as “A.M., 45,” in an earlier police statement. Investigations ruled out a “showdown between organized criminal groups” and revealed that the firearms used in the attack were illegal.
Prime Minister Milojko Spajic described the event as a "restaurant fight gone wrong" and announced plans to tighten firearms possession criteria.
