Gunman who killed at least 12 people in shooting rampage in Montenegro dies by suicide
Podgorica (Montenegro) (AP): A gunman who fatally shot at least 12 people, including two children, in Montenegro has killed himself while surrounded by police, officials said Thursday.
At least four others were wounded in the shooting rampage in the western town of Cetinje on Wednesday that followed a bar brawl, officials said.
The shooter, identified as 45-year-old Aco Martinovic, killed the owner of the bar, the bar owner's children and his own family members, Interior Minister Danilo Saranovic said.
The attacker, who fled after the rampage, was later located and surrounded by police. He died after shooting himself in the head, Saranovic said.
Police had dispatched a special unit to search for the attacker in the town, which is located about 30 kilometres northwest of the capital, Podgorica. All the roads in and out of the city have been blocked as police swarmed the streets.
Saranovic said that Martinovic had died while being taken to a hospital in the capital and succumbed from the “severity of his injuries.”
The government has declared three days of national mourning starting on Thursday, with Prime Minister Milojko Spajic describing the shooting as a “terrible tragedy.”
“The level of rage and brutality shows that sometimes such people ... are even more dangerous than members of organised criminal gangs,” Saranovic said.
Martinovic was at the bar throughout the day with other guests when the brawl erupted, Police Commissioner Lazar Scepanovic said. He said that Martinovic then went home, brought back a weapon and opened fire at around 5:30 pm.
“He killed four people” at the bar before heading out, and then continued shooting at three more locations, Scepanovic said.
He said that the suspect received a suspended sentence in 2005 for violent behaviour and had appealed his latest conviction for illegal weapons possession. Montenegrin media have reported that he was known for erratic and violent behaviour.
The small country of Montenegro, which has a population of around 6,20,000 people, is known for its gun culture and many people traditionally have weapons.
Wednesday's shooting was the second shooting rampage over the past three years in Cetinje, Montenegro's historic capital. An attacker killed 10 people, including two children, in August 2022 before he was shot and killed by a passerby in Cetinje.
President Jakov Milatovic said that he was “shocked and stunned” by the tragedy.
“Instead of holiday joy ... we have been gripped by sadness over the loss of innocent lives,” Milatovic said in a post on X.
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Elephant calf brought from Bijnor kept under care at Pilibhit Tiger Reserve
Pilibhit (PTI): A 19-day-old elephant calf, brought from Bijnor, was placed under care at the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) on Sunday, an official said and added that the calf got separated from its mother in the forest area of Bijnor.
The calf was born on December 2 in the Bijnor forest area and got separated from its mother shortly after birth, the official said.
The forest department made several attempts to reunite it with its mother, but without any success. To ensure the calf's safety and better care, it was decided to transfer it to the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve on the instructions of senior officials.
On Saturday, Deputy Director Manish Singh received the calf. Special arrangements have been made in the reserve for its care. It has been kept in a safe and clean environment to provide it with a natural setting and protect it from external noise and disturbances.
Singh told reporters that raising an 19-day-old calf is challenging.
It requires a special diet as a substitute for mother's milk and constant monitoring.
He said a special team has been formed to provide 24-hour care. Since the calf is very young, it is being cared for like a newborn baby.
According to Singh, the primary responsibility for monitoring the calf's health has been entrusted to PTR's veterinarian, Dr Daksh Gangwar. Under his supervision, a complete record of the calf's health checkups, diet, and body temperature is being maintained. The team is ensuring that the calf does not contract any infection.
