PODGORICA, Montenegro — At the least 10 individuals, together with two youngsters, had been killed and 4 others had been severely wounded on Wednesday in a capturing rampage that adopted a bar brawl in a western Montenegrin metropolis, officers mentioned. 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 youngsters and his circle of relatives members, Inside Minister Danilo Saranovic mentioned at a information convention.
“At this second, we’re centered on arresting him,” Saranovic informed reporters.
Police dispatched particular troops to seek for the attacker in Cetinje, positioned 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 extent of rage and brutality exhibits that typically such individuals … are much more harmful than members of organized felony gangs,” Saranovic mentioned.
Martinovic was on the bar all through the day with different company when the brawl erupted, mentioned Police Commissioner Lazar Scepanovic. He mentioned that Martinovic then went residence, brough again a weapon and opened fireplace at round 5:30 p.m.
“He killed 4 individuals” on the bar, earlier than heading out after which continued capturing at three extra places, mentioned Scepanovic. “He tried to take the lives of 4 extra individuals, after which fled with the car he was utilizing, which we’ve got discovered.”
He mentioned that the suspect acquired 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 recognized for erratic and violent conduct.
Small Montenegro, which has some 620,000 individuals, is thought 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 youngsters, in August 2022 earlier than he was shot and killed by a passerby in Cetinje.
President Jakov Milatovic mentioned he was “shocked and surprised” by the tragedy. “As a substitute of vacation pleasure … we’ve got been gripped by unhappiness over the lack of harmless lives,” Milatovic mentioned on the social media platform X.
Prime Minister Milojko Spajic went to the hospital the place the wounded had been being handled and introduced three days of mourning. He mentioned “all police groups” had been out looking for the suspect.
“This can be a horrible tragedy that has affected us all,” Spajic mentioned.
