Tragedy Strikes: Montenegro Faces National Mourning After Mass Shooting

Thu Apr 23 2026 10:38:24 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Montenegro grieves the loss of 12 lives, including children, following a devastating mass shooting incident.

In a horrific act of violence, a gunman in Montenegro opened fire, killing 12 individuals, including two children, in what has been described as a tragic consequence of disturbed interpersonal relations. The incident unfolded on Wednesday in the Cetinje area, where police identified the shooter as 45-year-old Aleksandar Martinović, who reportedly engaged in a verbal altercation at a restaurant before opening fire. Tragically, after shooting multiple people, including family members and children aged 10 and 13, Martinović took his own life as police closed in on him.

This shocking event led the Montenegrin government to declare three days of national mourning beginning Thursday, with Prime Minister Milojko Spajic expressing deep sorrow over the tragedy that has "shrouded our country in black." Witnesses reported that the gunman had been drinking heavily prior to the attack. The authorities are investigating the incident and have committed to reviewing security measures, considering options such as a total ban on private weapon possession. The last major shooting of this kind in Montenegro took place in 2022, highlighting the rarity of such incidents in this small Balkan country.

As Montenegro grapples with this profound loss, the nation mourns together, reflecting on the pain inflicted upon families and communities.