A gunman in Montenegro killed at least 12 people, including two children, in a shooting rampage that took place on Wednesday in the western town of Cetinje. The tragedy occurred after a bar brawl, and the attacker later took his own life. In addition to the 12 fatalities, four others were wounded. This event is considered one of the deadliest tragedies in the country’s history.

Hundreds of residents gathered in Cetinje on Thursday evening for a candlelight vigil to mourn the victims. The victims included seven men, three women, and two children, born in 2011 and 2016. Shock and grief spread throughout the small town of 17,000 people, many of whom knew the victims and the shooter personally. The shooter, a 45-year-old man, killed several people he was closely related to, including his sister.

The police had responded quickly, surrounding the shooter after he fled, but he eventually took his own life. The attack started at the bar, where the shooter killed four people, including the owner and the owner’s children. He then continued his rampage across various locations, including a site where he killed two children.

Authorities indicated that the attack was not premeditated, and the shooter’s violent history was known to them, including a previous conviction for illegal weapon possession. Following the tragedy, the Montenegrin government declared three days of national mourning, and all New Year’s celebrations were canceled. Prime Minister stated that there would be discussions about possibly implementing stricter gun control measures in the country, where gun ownership is widespread.

The shooting in Cetinje is not the first such incident in the town. In August 2022, a similar shooting occurred, in which 10 people, including two children, were killed.