PODGORICA, Montenegro — A top-level meeting convened in Montenegro on Friday sought solutions to address the issue of illegal weapons following a tragic incident in which a gunman claimed the lives of 12 individuals, marking the second such devastating event in under three years in this small Balkan nation. An emergency gathering of Montenegro’s National Security Council is anticipated to advocate for the enactment of a new firearms law and prompt measures to seize what is presumed to be a significant number of illicit weapons in the possession of the country’s 620,000 inhabitants. With a deeply ingrained gun culture, Montenegro ranks sixth globally for illegal weapons per capita, as reported by the state television broadcaster RTCG.
The assailant responsible for the fatal shooting spree that unfolded in the western town of Cetinje on Wednesday utilized an illegal 9mm firearm. Law enforcement authorities disclosed the recovery of 37 casings at the scene of the shootings, along with over 80 additional rounds of ammunition in the possession of the perpetrator. Identified as 45-year-old Aco Martinović, the gunman ultimately took his own life by a self-inflicted gunshot wound soon after the rampage. Allegedly triggered by a bar altercation, Martinović retrieved his weapon from home before embarking on a violent spree across multiple locations late in the afternoon.
Among Martinović’s victims were seven men, three women — including his sister — and two children born in 2011 and 2016. Furthermore, four individuals sustained serious injuries and are currently hospitalized. Police Commissioner Lazar Šćepanović characterized the events of Wednesday as “one of the most significant tragedies in Montenegro’s history.” The incident has reignited concerns regarding the prevalence of violence within Montenegrin society, which is characterized by political divisions, and has prompted scrutiny of the efficacy of state institutions in addressing issues such as firearm ownership.
In remembrance of the victims, numerous individuals across Montenegro silently lit candles on Thursday evening while demanding answers as to the circumstances that led to the tragedy. Many expressed frustration with the perceived inadequacy of authorities in preventing such incidents, with protests slated to take place in the days ahead. Reflecting on the situation, retiree Mira Škorić from Podgorica lamented, “I can’t believe that we failed so much as a society. We failed as people too.”
In a separate incident in August 2022, a perpetrator claimed the lives of 10 individuals, including two children, before being neutralized by a bystander in Cetinje, Montenegro’s historic capital situated approximately 30 kilometers northwest of the nation’s capital, Podgorica. The Human Rights Action and Women’s Rights Center organizations issued a joint statement emphasizing the imperative need for a comprehensive evaluation of the security system’s accountability and preparedness in the wake of these tragic events. They inquired about the reforms implemented in Cetinje’s security framework since the previous incident in 202
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