Serbia’s Second Mass Shooting In 2 Days Kills 8 And Injured 14; Suspect Arrested
In a tragic incident, a gunman reportedly opened fire indiscriminately in three Serbian villages, resulting in the death of eight individuals and injuring 14 others.
The incident has left the nation in shock, especially as it comes on the heels of a mass shooting that occurred just a day earlier. On Friday, a suspect was arrested by the police following an all-night manhunt.
According to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Thursday’s shooting was an assault on the entire nation. The individual who was apprehended was reportedly wearing a T-shirt with a pro-Nazi slogan on it.
Just one day following the tragic incident in Belgrade, where a 13-year-old boy used his father’s guns to take the lives of eight students and a guard at a school, another shooting has occurred. Details surrounding the most recent shooting are still developing.
The Balkan nation was sent into shock by the bloodshed, as they are a region that has been scarred by wars, but not accustomed to mass murders. In a country where weapons from the conflicts of the 1990s are still prevalent, Serbia experienced its first shooting at a school in modern history on Wednesday.
In 2013, a war veteran killed 13 people in a central Serbian village in what was the last mass shooting before this week.
On Thursday evening, an assailant opened fire on individuals in three villages located in close proximity to Mladenovac, which is situated approximately 50 kilometers (30 miles) to the south of the capital city. According to Vucic, the assailant aimed at individuals “regardless of their location.”
Milan Prokic, a resident of Dubona near Mladenovac, reported hearing some tak-tak-tak sounds. According to Prokic, his initial assumption was that the sound of gunfire was in celebration of a birth, a common custom in Serbia.
According to the speaker, it was not that. “Shame, great shame,” Prokic stated.
According to police reports, a suspect known only by the initials U.B. was apprehended in the vicinity of Kragujevac, a town located approximately 100 kilometers (60 miles) to the south of Belgrade.
A photo of the suspect in a police car was released by authorities. The young man in the photo was wearing a blue T-shirt with the slogan “Generation 88” on it. According to sources, the double eights can be utilized as a code for “Heil Hitler” due to the fact that H is the eighth letter of the alphabet.
In an address to the nation, Vucic made a vow that the suspect would “never again see the light of day.” The speaker labeled the incident as a terrorist attack and unveiled a fresh set of gun-control measures. These measures comprise a suspension of new firearm permits and a boost in police numbers.
Serbian President Vucic has made a promise to disarm Serbia. He stated that the government will provide details on the new regulations later today.
Serbia was in a state of shock for most of Thursday, prior to the second shooting incident. In central Belgrade, students paid silent homage to their slain peers as they filled the streets around the school. Many of them were wearing black and carrying flowers.
In response to a perceived crisis in the school system, Serbian teachers’ unions have declared their intention to stage protests and strikes. Their aim is to draw attention to the situation and call for reforms.
Seven people, including six children and a teacher, were hospitalized following a shooting at the Vladislav Ribnikar school on Wednesday. According to doctors, a girl who was shot in the head is currently in a life-threatening condition, while a boy is in serious condition with spinal injuries. This update was provided on Thursday.
According to authorities, the shooter has been identified as Kosta Kecmanovic. They have also stated that he is currently underage and therefore cannot be charged or tried for the crime. A man has been admitted to a mental hospital, while his father has been taken into custody on suspicion of endangering public security.
Serbia and other Balkan countries have a high prevalence of gun ownership, with Serbia boasting one of the highest rates of firearms per person globally. It is common practice in the region to discharge firearms into the air during celebrations.
In a highly divided country like Serbia, where convicted war criminals are often glorified and violence against minority groups goes unpunished, experts have repeatedly sounded the alarm about the danger posed by the abundance of weapons.
According to sources, it has been noted that the conflicts of the 1990s have caused decades of instability and ongoing economic hardship, which could potentially lead to outbursts.
According to The Associated Press, Dragan Popadic, a psychology professor at Belgrade University, has stated that the recent school shooting has revealed the extent of violence that exists within society and has left many deeply shocked.
The speaker issued a warning, stating that individuals have been abruptly awakened to the harsh reality of the increasing violence in our society. He emphasized that this violence has been growing over time and that our society has been neglected for many years.
According to the speaker, it seems that a sudden change has occurred in their lives, as if a spotlight has been turned on and they can no longer simply focus on their own affairs.
