An armed man shot and killed at least four people and wounded four others on Wednesday in the western Montenegrin city of Cetinje, police and local media said, and the gunman is still on the run.
A gunman killed at least four people with another four injured in a horrifying attack in the western Montenegrin city of Cetinje.
The shooter remains on the loose, with special forces dispatched to hunt him down in Cetinje, located roughly18 miles northwest of the capital, Podgorica.
Police have identified the suspect only by his initials, A.M, and revealed he is 45 years old. The man reportedly opened fire in a bar before fleeing the scene armed. While police confirmed at least four fatalities, state RTCG television and other Montenegrin media reported that seven people were killed following a bar brawl.
Montenegro’s Prime Minister Milojko Spajic visited the hospital where the wounded are being treated and declared three days of mourning. He did not specify the number of victims but expressed his shock over the incident, stating: “This is a terrible tragedy that has affected us all,” and added, “All police teams are out.”
The man behind the horrifying attack has been identified as Aco Martinovic by RTCG. Known for his erratic behaviour, he had previously been detained for illegal possession of weapons.
The TV station published a photo of the alleged suspect on its website. According to the report, Martinovic returned home to retrieve his gun before returning to the bar and opening fire, killing and injuring several people.
He then moved to another location where he murdered the children of the bar owner and a woman. Police have urged residents to stay calm and remain indoors, dismissing any suggestions of a gang-related dispute.
Montenegro, a small country with a population of around 620,000, is known for its gun culture, with many residents traditionally owning weapons. This marks the second shooting rampage in Cetinje, Montenegro’s historic capital, in the past three years.
In August 2022, an attacker killed 10 people, including two children, before being shot and killed by a passerby in Cetinje.
