Police investigators work on the website of a capturing in Cetinje, situated 22 miles west of Podogrica, Montenegro, Wednesday, Jan 1, 2025.
Risto Bozovic/AP
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Risto Bozovic/AP
PODGORICA, Montenegro — At the very least 10 individuals, together with two kids, have been killed and 4 others have been significantly wounded on Wednesday in a capturing rampage that adopted a bar brawl in a western Montenegrin metropolis, officers stated. The shooter was on the run.
Police recognized the attacker as 45-year-old Aco Martinovic. He killed the proprietor of the bar within the metropolis of Cetinje, the bar proprietor’s kids and his family members, Inside Minister Danilo Saranovic stated at a information convention.
“At this moment, we are focused on arresting him,” Saranovic instructed reporters.
Police dispatched particular troops to seek for the attacker in Cetinje, situated some 30 kilometers (18 miles) northwest of the capital, Podgorica. All of the roads out and in of the town have been blocked as police swarmed the streets.
Saranovic described the suspect as harmful and appealed on the residents to remain indoors.
“The level of rage and brutality shows that sometimes such people … are even more dangerous than members of organized criminal gangs,” Saranovic stated.
Martinovic was on the bar all through the day with different visitors when the brawl erupted, stated Police Commissioner Lazar Scepanovic. He stated that Martinovic then went residence, brough again a weapon and opened fireplace at round 5:30 p.m.
“He killed four people” on the bar, earlier than heading out after which continued capturing at three extra areas, stated Scepanovic. “He tried to take the lives of four more people, and then fled with the vehicle he was using, which we have found.”
He stated that the suspect obtained a suspended sentence in 2005 for violent conduct and has appealed his newest conviction for unlawful possession of weapons. Montenegrin media have reported he was identified for erratic and violent conduct.
Small Montenegro, which has some 620,000 individuals, is understood for its gun tradition and many individuals historically have weapons.
Wednesday’s capturing was the second capturing rampage over the previous three years in Cetinje, Montenegro’s historic capital. An attacker additionally killed 10 individuals, together with two kids, in August 2022 earlier than he was shot and killed by a passerby in Cetinje.
President Jakov Milatovic stated he was “shocked and stunned” by the tragedy. “Instead of holiday joy … we have been gripped by sadness over the loss of innocent lives,” Milatovic stated on the social media platform X.
Prime Minister Milojko Spajic went to the hospital the place the wounded have been being handled and introduced three days of mourning. He stated “all police teams” have been out looking for the suspect.
“This is a terrible tragedy that has affected us all,” Spajic stated.
