Amid national mourning, the event has sparked discussions on gun legislation within the Balkan nation.
The tragic sequence of events unfolded on Wednesday when a 45-year-old man, identified as Aco Martinovic, opened fire in a bar following a conflict. Interior Minister Danilo Saranovic confirmed that among the deceased were the bar's owner and his children. Following the onslaught, the city and government officials initiated a search for the assailant, who was later reported to have died from self-inflicted wounds.
Prime Minister Milojko Spajic stated that four individuals sustained serious injuries and announced upcoming deliberations concerning firearm restrictions. “This is a terrible tragedy that has affected us all,” Spajic remarked during a press conference.
In response to the horror, the government declared three days of mourning, urging cities to cancel scheduled performances and concerts. President Jakov Milatovic expressed the profound sadness enveloping the nation, contrasting the anticipated holiday joy with grief over lost lives.
This mass shooting marks the second such incident in Cetinje within three years, with another gunman causing similar devastation in 2022. The small Balkan nation, home to roughly 620,000 residents, has a notably high rate of gun ownership, ranking alongside its neighboring Serbia. According to the 2018 Small Arms Survey, Montenegro has 39 firearms per 100 people, trailing only the United States and Yemen for civilian armament.
Such incidents are reigniting discussions on the need for tighter gun control laws in Montenegro, as citizens confront the aftershocks of this unimaginable tragedy.
The tragic sequence of events unfolded on Wednesday when a 45-year-old man, identified as Aco Martinovic, opened fire in a bar following a conflict. Interior Minister Danilo Saranovic confirmed that among the deceased were the bar's owner and his children. Following the onslaught, the city and government officials initiated a search for the assailant, who was later reported to have died from self-inflicted wounds.
Prime Minister Milojko Spajic stated that four individuals sustained serious injuries and announced upcoming deliberations concerning firearm restrictions. “This is a terrible tragedy that has affected us all,” Spajic remarked during a press conference.
In response to the horror, the government declared three days of mourning, urging cities to cancel scheduled performances and concerts. President Jakov Milatovic expressed the profound sadness enveloping the nation, contrasting the anticipated holiday joy with grief over lost lives.
This mass shooting marks the second such incident in Cetinje within three years, with another gunman causing similar devastation in 2022. The small Balkan nation, home to roughly 620,000 residents, has a notably high rate of gun ownership, ranking alongside its neighboring Serbia. According to the 2018 Small Arms Survey, Montenegro has 39 firearms per 100 people, trailing only the United States and Yemen for civilian armament.
Such incidents are reigniting discussions on the need for tighter gun control laws in Montenegro, as citizens confront the aftershocks of this unimaginable tragedy.
