The people of Montenegro started three days of mourning on Thursday for the victims of a mass shooting that occurred in Cetinje the previous day.

The horrific incident claimed the lives of twelve individuals, including two children, before the shooter took his own life. Four others were reported to be in critical condition.

According to the prosecution, the shooter, Aco Martinovic, began his attack at a bar on Wednesday afternoon, continuing to fire in four other locations.

“Investigations were conducted at each site, and evidence has been collected for consideration. The murderer ultimately committed suicide, marking this as the sixth location to undergo examination,” prosecutor Andrijana Nastic stated to reporters in Cetinje.

“Our ongoing prosecutor-police efforts will aim to clarify the circumstances surrounding this tragic event,” Nastic continued.

The first shots were fired around 5:30 PM, but the culprit was not captured until nearly midnight.

Acting Police Director Lazar Scepanovic reported on Wednesday that following a verbal altercation at the bar, Martinovic retrieved a firearm and shot four individuals on the spot.

He noted that the suspect had a prior history with law enforcement.

“In 2022, the suspect was subject to a police search, during which an air rifle, explosives, and unlicensed firearms were confiscated. He received a three-month prison sentence; however, this was not executed due to an appeal he filed against the ruling,” stated Scepanovic.

Prime Minister Milojko Spajic announced during his visit to the injured that an extraordinary session of the National Security Council would convene to discuss immediate actions regarding illegal weapons control, stricter possession regulations, and the hiring of additional police personnel.

“The National Security Council will urgently evaluate all possible measures, including a complete prohibition of weapon ownership,” remarked Spajic.

The government indicated that the National Security Council meeting would take place on Friday.

“The agenda will include initiatives for immediate actions across Montenegro aimed at detecting and confiscating illegal firearms, along with plans to initiate a public recruitment process for new police officers to enhance the security framework,” the announcement elaborated.

Concert performances planned in various Montenegrin cities for Wednesday night and subsequent days have been cancelled.

This incident marks the second mass shooting in Cetinje, Montenegro’s historic royal capital, within a span of less than three years. In August 2022, Vuk Borilovic fatally shot ten people, including two children, over a period of 45 minutes before being killed in a confrontation with law enforcement.

In 2023, with assistance from legal professionals, the families of the victims proposed amendments to the firearms legislation aimed at tightening the criteria for legal gun possession and establishing clearer protocols for confiscation. Despite receiving support from officials, this bill has yet to be passed.