By Stevo Vasiljevic

PODGORICA, Montenegro (Reuters) -A person shot useless 12 folks in a rampage in a small city in Montenegro earlier than dying from self-inflicted accidents early on Thursday, authorities mentioned, in one of many tiny Balkan nation’s worst mass killings.

The attacker, named by police as 45-year-old Aleksandar Aco Martinovic, initially killed 4 folks when he opened hearth after a brawl at a restaurant in Cetinje on Wednesday afternoon.

He then shot useless eight folks, together with two kids, at three different areas, prosecutor Andrijana Nastic mentioned.

Martinovic was cornered by officers close to his residence within the city and tried to kill himself, then died of his accidents on the way in which to hospital within the early hours of Thursday, Inside Minister Danilo Saranovic mentioned.

“When he saw that he was in a hopeless situation, he attempted suicide. He did not succumb to his injuries on the spot, but during the transport to hospital,” Saranovic informed Montenegro’s state broadcaster, RTCG.

The incident is the second taking pictures in three years in the identical city 38 km (24 miles) west of the capital Podgorica. In 2022 a gunman killed 10 folks, together with two kids, earlier than he was shot useless.

Police mentioned Martinovic had been consuming closely and had a historical past of unlawful weapons possession.

After an altercation with patrons within the restaurant he went residence, took a weapon, returned to the restaurant and began taking pictures, police mentioned.

4 different folks suffered life-threatening accidents throughout Wednesday’s rampage, and one stays in a vital situation, Aleksandar Radovic, the director of the Medical Centre in Podgorica, mentioned.

Police mentioned Wednesday’s taking pictures was not associated to organised crime.

Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajic known as the rampage a “terrible tragedy” and declared three days of nationwide mourning. President Jakov Milatovic mentioned he was “horrified” by the assault.

Spajic mentioned authorities would think about tightening standards for proudly owning and carrying firearms, together with the opportunity of a whole ban on weapons. That can possible face opposition in Montenegro, which has a deeply rooted gun tradition.

Regardless of strict gun legal guidelines, the Western Balkans composed of Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia, Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia, stay awash with weapons. Most are from the wars within the Nineteen Nineties, however some date again even to World Warfare One.