Montenegro, Indonesia Sentinel — A tragic shooting incident on Wednesday (January 1) near the southern town of Cetinje, Montenegro, claimed the lives of at least 10 people, including two children. The shooting occurred at a restaurant in the Bajice village and has left the small Balkan nation reeling.
Montenegro’s Interior Minister Danilo Saranovic confirmed the death toll, stating that the victims included two minors who were the children of the restaurant owner, who was also killed. “The shooter also took the lives of his own family members,” Saranovic added in a press briefing on Thursday.
Prime Minister Milojko Spajic expressed his condolences and provided updates on the situation. “This horrific tragedy has shaken us all,” Spajic said, noting that four individuals with severe injuries are currently hospitalized in the capital, Podgorica. “They are fighting for their lives.”
Multiple Crime Scenes
The perpetrator, identified as a 45-year-old man with the initials AM, reportedly consumed alcohol throughout the day before engaging in a confrontation with other guests at the restaurant.
“He then went home, retrieved a firearm, and fatally shot four people at one location,” Police Chief Lazar Scepanovic explained. The violence unfolded across four different sites, according to law enforcement authorities.
The police have ruled out organized crime as a motive behind the attack. “All available units, including special forces, are on-site to secure the area and investigate,” Scepanovic stated.
Impact on the Local Community
Residents in the vicinity were urged to stay indoors as heavily armed police officers secured the area around the restaurant. Roads were blocked, and ambulances were dispatched to assist victims.
While mass shootings are rare in Montenegro, this incident recalls a similar tragedy in 2022, when a man killed 10 people, including two children, in Cetinje before taking his own life.
This latest attack underscores the pressing need for reforms in firearm regulations and measures to address underlying issues contributing to such acts of violence. The nation mourns yet another devastating event, sending shockwaves through the tight-knit community.
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Restaurant Shooting Incident Details
- Location: Bajice village near Cetinje, Montenegro.
- Victims: 10 fatalities, including two children; four severely injured.
- Perpetrator: Identified as AM, 45 years old.
- Sequence of Events: The shooter consumed alcohol, argued with guests, and carried out the killings at four separate locations.
- Police Response: Special units deployed, crime scenes secured, investigation ongoing.
Montenegro remains in mourning as authorities and communities grapple with the aftermath of this senseless tragedy.
(Becky)