The gunman suspected of killing at least eight people in Serbia on Thursday has been arrested. Serbia’s Interior Ministry says the arrest follows a massive manhunt involving the special forces.
The massacre took place near a village, south of Belgrade. The gunman fired an automatic weapon from a moving vehicle, before going on the run. At least eight people were killed and 13 injured. The attacker was reportedly with two other people in the vehicle.
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Over 600 members of the Serbian Special Forces were reportedly deployed to search for the attacker, reports the public broadcaster RTS. Authorities assisted the search with helicopters and thermal imaging cameras. All special police units were engaged, along with an anti-terrorism unit.
Two shootings, one week
The mass shooting come just one day after a thirteen-year-old boy shot dead eight classmates at his elementary school, including a security guard. The shooting took place in Belgrade on Wednesday.
Earlier on Thursday, reports Al Jazeera, dozens of students wore black and brought flowers as they paid their respects to the victims. People were seen hugging and crying outside the school – which is still cordoned off – surrounded by piles of flowers, footballs and teddy bears.
A three-day mourning period will begin on Friday morning.
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Gun laws in Serbia
Up until this week, mass shootings were rare in Serbia. But these attacks have now prompted the Serbian government to propose tighter restrictions on gun ownership. While Serbia has very strict laws, gun ownership is the among the highest in Europe – and the fifth highest in the world. The country is flooded with illegal weapons following the unrest in the 1990s.
Experts have repeatedly warned of the dangers posed by the number of weapons in the country. There is the added risk from decades of instability and ongoing economic hardship.
