Montenegro is observing three days of national mourning following a tragic mass shooting in the city of Cetinje on January 1, 2025. The incident resulted in the deaths of at least ten individuals, including two children, and left four others seriously injured.
Incident Details
The assailant, identified as 45-year-old Aco Martinović, initiated the attack following a bar altercation in the Bajice neighborhood of Cetinje. After the dispute, Martinović retrieved a firearm from his residence and returned to the bar, where he fatally shot the owner and the owner's two children. He then proceeded to three additional locations, targeting and killing his own family members and others before attempting to flee.
Law enforcement agencies launched an extensive manhunt, deploying special forces and utilizing drones equipped with thermal imaging to locate the suspect. Martinović was eventually found near his home with a self-inflicted gunshot wound and was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.
National Response
The gravity of the incident has deeply affected the nation. President Jakov Milatović expressed profound shock and sorrow, stating, "Instead of holiday joy ... we have been gripped by sadness over the loss of innocent lives." Prime Minister Milojko Spajić visited the injured victims in the hospital and announced a three-day period of national mourning to honor the victims.
Cultural Context and Future Measures
Mass shootings are rare in Montenegro; however, the country has a deeply rooted gun culture, with many illegal firearms still in circulation from past conflicts in the Balkans. This tragedy has prompted authorities to consider implementing stricter gun control measures, including a potential total ban on firearm possession, to prevent such incidents in the future.
As the nation mourns, the focus remains on supporting the victims' families and ensuring that such a tragedy does not recur.