Montenegro protests after deadly mass shooting

Jan 4, 2025 - Hundreds of people protested in Montenegro’s capital, Podgorica, on Friday, blaming authorities for failing to prevent a mass shooting that killed 12 people and seriously injured four others.

The attack happened in Cetinje on Wednesday when 45-year-old Aco Martinović, reportedly drunk, shot his sister and neighbors. He evaded the police for hours before taking his own life early Thursday.

Anger over police response

Protesters gathered near government buildings, holding black-ribboned roses and banners saying, “Your system is rotten” and “You have blood on your hands.” They stood in silence to honor the victims, then chanted against the police, who had blocked access to the area.

Some protesters tried to break through the police line. Many called for the resignation of Interior Minister Danilo Saranović and police chief Lazar Šćepanović.

On Thursday, Šćepanović admitted that the police arrived late because they were sent to the wrong location.

“Tell us what’s happening in your system,” shouted one protester. “Otherwise, this could happen to any of us next time.”

A history of violence

This was Montenegro’s second mass killing in less than three years. In August 2022, a gunman killed ten people, including two children, in Cetinje before being shot.

The protest coincided with a National Security Council meeting, where officials discussed stricter gun laws and plans to recruit more police officers.

Like other countries in the Western Balkans, Montenegro struggles with illegal weapons left over from the wars of the 1990s.

For many citizens, the recent tragedy highlights the urgent need to reform a police force dealing with staff shortages, funding problems, and internal conflicts.