National Mourning in Montenegro After Deadly Shooting
Montenegro has begun three days of national mourning after a gunman went on a rampage, killing 12 people including two children, at a village restaurant in Cetinje.
The Tragedy
The shooting occurred on Wednesday evening, with the gunman targeting five different locations, including the restaurant where the first four victims were killed. The two children, aged 10 and 13, were among the victims. Four others were seriously injured and transported to a hospital in the capital, Podgorica.
The Gunman
The 45-year-old gunman died after shooting himself in the head when he was surrounded by police after an hours-long manhunt. According to police chief Lazar Scepanovic, the suspect had consumed alcoholic beverages all day before an altercation between him and another restaurant guest, which led to the shooting.
Government Response
Prime Minister Milojko Spajic described the incident as a "terrible tragedy" and pledged to tighten the country’s criteria for firearms possession. The government has also announced plans to review "key challenges in the detection and seizure of illegal weapons" and to recruit additional police officers.
The Impact
The shooting has sent shockwaves across Montenegro, with President Jakov Milatovic saying he was "shocked and shaken by this tragedy that has cast a shadow over our Cetinje". According to the Small Arms Survey (SAS), there are approximately 245,000 firearms in circulation in Montenegro, a country of just over 620,000 people.
The Context
Cetinje, with a population of around 13,000 people, is the site of the former royal capital and sits in a mountainous valley that has largely stagnated economically. The area is also a stronghold of organised criminal groups, and clashes erupt sporadically between rival mafia clans.
The Future
As Montenegro seeks to join the European Union, it must tackle the issues of organised crime and corruption. The government has pledged to address these issues, and the National Security Council is set to meet on Friday to discuss the way forward.
Conclusion
The shooting in Cetinje is a devastating reminder of the importance of effective gun control and the need to address the underlying issues of organised crime and corruption. As Montenegro mourns the loss of 12 lives, it must also take concrete steps to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many people were killed in the shooting?
- 12 people, including two children
- Where did the shooting occur?
- At a village restaurant in Cetinje
- Who was the gunman?
- A 45-year-old man who died after shooting himself in the head
- What was the motive for the shooting?
- The motive is unclear, but the gunman had an altercation with another restaurant guest before the shooting
- What is the government doing in response to the shooting?
- Tightening the country’s criteria for firearms possession, reviewing "key challenges in the detection and seizure of illegal weapons", and recruiting additional police officers