Striking move in Montenegro after attack that killed 12: '12 minutes of silence, your hands are bloody'
Following the attack in the southern city of Cetinje yesterday that resulted in the deaths of 12 people, the Montenegrin government is preparing to introduce heavy penalties for those in possession of unlicensed firearms.
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Speaking at a press conference held after an extraordinary meeting of the National Security Council in the capital Podgorica, Prime Minister Milojko Spajic stated that the attacker, Aco Martinovic, who killed 12 people, was someone with serious psychological issues.
Announcing that the arms law will be updated, Spajic said, "We will give those with gun licenses until January 1, 2026, to pass new psychological and security tests. Those who cannot meet the required conditions will have their licenses revoked."
Spajic stated that they are already running a "Respect life, return your weapon" campaign for those who possess weapons illegally, adding that they will limit the campaign to 2 months and that those who do not surrender their unlicensed weapons will face heavy penalties.
Stating that "We will show no mercy to those who continue to keep their weapons," Spajic noted that the attack was not committed for religious or nationalist reasons.
According to reports in the national media, Montenegro ranks 6th in the world in terms of the number of illegal weapons per capita.
PROTEST HELD IN FRONT OF GOVERNMENT BUILDING
Meanwhile, while the National Security Council meeting was ongoing, hundreds of people gathered in front of the government building in the capital and demanded the resignation of the country's security officials.
The crowd carried signs reading "the system is rotten," "your hands are bloody," and "12 minutes of silence."
Jelena Doderovic, who participated in the protest, stated that she joined for the safety of her children, saying, "One of us could have been the target too."
Another protester, Nikola Milic, expressed that he was deeply affected by what happened in Cetinje, assessing that "This latest tragedy was the final straw for the government."
ATTACKER ALSO KILLED HIS SISTER
Yesterday in the city of Cetinje, 45-year-old Aco Martinovic killed 12 people and seriously injured 4 others with an unlicensed weapon following a bar fight.
Martinovic, who carried out armed attacks in 5 different locations in the city, committed suicide after being surrounded by police.
It was reported that the 12 people killed by the attacker included his sister and relatives, as well as 2 siblings aged 10 and 13.
The Montenegrin government had declared 3 days of national mourning due to the attack.