Montenegrins Protest Leadership Over Mass Shooting Response

Thousands demand resignations of top security officials after a New Year’s Day massacre in Cetinje leaves 12 dead.

Protesters in Podgorica and Cetinje called for the resignations of Interior Minister Danilo Šaranović and Deputy Prime Minister Aleksa Bečić over perceived failures in preventing the January 1 mass shooting.
The gunman, Aco Martinović, killed 12 people, including two children, across five locations in Cetinje before dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Critics blame inadequate police response and systemic issues like Montenegro’s high firearm prevalence and insufficient security measures following a similar massacre in 2022.
The government has proposed stricter gun control laws, including mandatory reverification of licenses, penalties for illegal firearms, and a moratorium on new gun permits.
Public anger persists, with citizens demanding accountability and reforms to address security lapses and prevent future tragedies.