Death Toll Rises in Montenegro's New Year Massacre
Tragic Incident Sparks National Outcry Amid Calls for Stricter Gun Control
The death toll from the horrific shooting spree in Cetinje, Montenegro on New Year's Day has risen to thirteen following the passing of a severely injured victim, according to the Montenegrin Clinical Center.
This was confirmed by information reported by Montenegrin public service television (RTCG) on their online platform.
The victim, admitted to the hospital on January 1st with multiple gunshot wounds, underwent several surgical procedures.
Despite showing signs of recovery, his condition deteriorated, leading to death due to unforeseen complications, the hospital reported.
On the first day of the year, 45-year-old Aleksandar Martinovic, reportedly intoxicated, opened fire in a café in Cetinje.
The rampage continued in four other locations as he fled, resulting in the deaths of twelve people, including two children, before he turned the gun on himself.
Sunday witnessed large-scale protests across Montenegrin cities, with thousands demanding the resignation of the interior minister, reflecting widespread public outrage.
Protesters thronged the streets of the capital with signs reading "Murderers" and "Resignations".
They blame political figures responsible for security and their agencies for failing to safeguard the public.
The tragedy follows a similar incident in August 2022, when a gunman killed ten people in Cetinje.
Protesters argue that the police's response then was inadequate and criticize the lack of stringent security measures and unamended gun laws, which they believe contributed to the recurrence of such violent episodes.
Raising concerns over law enforcement's efficiency, they highlighted that Martinovic had prior convictions for illegal firearm possession and violent behavior.
In the wake of the recent massacre, Prime Minister Milojko Spajic has pledged to enforce much stricter gun laws.
Under the proposed regulations, current firearm permit holders will need to renew their licenses by next January.
Strict vetting processes will be implemented, and those failing to meet the new standards must surrender their firearms or face them being classified as illegal.
In addition, the existing gun surrender amnesty will be extended by two months, allowing holders of illegal firearms to surrender them without legal repercussions.
The incident and its aftermath have reignited a national debate on gun control, with authorities pushing for reforms to prevent future tragedies of this magnitude.
This was confirmed by information reported by Montenegrin public service television (RTCG) on their online platform.
The victim, admitted to the hospital on January 1st with multiple gunshot wounds, underwent several surgical procedures.
Despite showing signs of recovery, his condition deteriorated, leading to death due to unforeseen complications, the hospital reported.
On the first day of the year, 45-year-old Aleksandar Martinovic, reportedly intoxicated, opened fire in a café in Cetinje.
The rampage continued in four other locations as he fled, resulting in the deaths of twelve people, including two children, before he turned the gun on himself.
Sunday witnessed large-scale protests across Montenegrin cities, with thousands demanding the resignation of the interior minister, reflecting widespread public outrage.
Protesters thronged the streets of the capital with signs reading "Murderers" and "Resignations".
They blame political figures responsible for security and their agencies for failing to safeguard the public.
The tragedy follows a similar incident in August 2022, when a gunman killed ten people in Cetinje.
Protesters argue that the police's response then was inadequate and criticize the lack of stringent security measures and unamended gun laws, which they believe contributed to the recurrence of such violent episodes.
Raising concerns over law enforcement's efficiency, they highlighted that Martinovic had prior convictions for illegal firearm possession and violent behavior.
In the wake of the recent massacre, Prime Minister Milojko Spajic has pledged to enforce much stricter gun laws.
Under the proposed regulations, current firearm permit holders will need to renew their licenses by next January.
Strict vetting processes will be implemented, and those failing to meet the new standards must surrender their firearms or face them being classified as illegal.
In addition, the existing gun surrender amnesty will be extended by two months, allowing holders of illegal firearms to surrender them without legal repercussions.
The incident and its aftermath have reignited a national debate on gun control, with authorities pushing for reforms to prevent future tragedies of this magnitude.
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.