Massive murder near Belgrade: Police find arsenals

On 5 May, authorities in Serbia arrested the alleged attack that left eight people dead.

Suspect, identified by initials W. B, he's 21.

Earlier Friday, Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vuciq, has called Thursday's attack on terror near Belgrade, where eight people were killed.

It's an act in which our special antiterrorism units were tasked with arresting or neutralizing a terrorist. He's been arrested and he'll never see sunlight again. He will not get out of prison”, Vuciq said at a news conference Friday.

Of the massive shootings that took place in several villages in Mladenov, on the territory of the city of Belgrade, 13 more people were injured, Serbia's Interior Affairs Ministry announced.

According to Serbian Health Minister Danica Grujicic, the 13 injured have serious injuries. Now they are in stable condition, but they are in danger for life, she said.

Meanwhile, according to the Interior Ministry's announcement, the alleged attacker U.B., born in 2002, was arrested near the city of Kraguyevci after hours on the run.

The shooting occurred in the villages of Dubona, Small Hours and Sheshin late Thursday.

The police are continuing to collect facts and clear all circumstances of this” event, the Serbian Ministry announced.

Police have not yet revealed the motive for the attack.

Serbian President Vuciq, after the attack, cited some security measures the Government will take, including employing 1,200 new policemen and transferring 1,000 others to stay close to schools.

“ (This will be done) so that parents can feel secure. There will be police and officers almost always at school, until we reach the level where the police are always at school. With this, not only will we increase security by 90 percent but we will also reduce peer violence at school by 80 percent, I believe”, Vuciq said.

On the other hand, Vucic suggested a mortorium for gun permits regardless of the type of weapons, and more frequent medical and psychological checks by gun owners.

According to some local media, the attacker shot at people with an automatic weapon after having a debate with a police officer at a park in the village of Dubona.

Three of the injured were subjected to emergency medical treatment at a local hospital, reports Radio Free Europe correspondents on the ground.

The Institute for Blood Transfusion in Serbia told REL that the Health Ministry has called on citizens to donate blood.

Gendarmerie forces with long arms and numerous police patrols continue to be on the ground.

Serbia's Health Minister, Danica Grujicic, and Intelligence Service chief Aleksandar Vulin, reportedly have travelled to the area.

These are the second massive shootings that took place in Serbia this week.

On Wednesday, a 13-year-old boy allegedly killed eight students and a security guard at a school in downtown Belgrade.

Locals: Suddenly there was a hail

Slobodan Nikolic, resident of Dubona village, told Radio Free Europe that he had heard gunshots from his home.

Abnegation was heard. The first one was long, it must have fired 25 bullets. The second was a minute later and then the third. After that, the car landed (on the road). Someone shouted:

Call the police, a guy is lying dead”

resident Zvonko Mladenov said he heard the shots, but he didn't know what happened until he turned on the TV this morning.

When I came out, disaster... I've known the victims, they're little kids, when I heard I was shocked. First children in Belgrade, now here, what to say. I am speechless”, he said.

International Reactions

European policy figures have reacted to events in Serbia, condemning the attacks and expressing condolences for those affected by the tragedy.

Josep Borrell, chief diplomats of the European Union on Twitter, wrote: ” Another case of mass shooting in Serbia with innocent people killed. This is a shocking, terrible tragedy we feel pain and stay with the people of Serbia in these difficult times”.

EU Commissioner for Neighborship and Enlargement Oliver Varhely also called for halting violence.

“sends the deepest condolences to the families of victims and the entire nation of Serbia. Also, I wish for quick recovery for the wounded. This violence must end now!”, he wrote.

Meanwhile, the rapporteur for Serbia, in the European Parliament, Vladimir Bilchik, called “for a thorough investigation into terrible events and full implementation of justice”.

Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejcinovic Buric wrote in her Twitter response that “has been shaken by other mass shootings in Serbia”.

My “My thoughts are with the victims, their families and authorities in Serbia”, she said.

Serbia, currently, is in mourning for victims of school attack.

Massive shooting is relatively rare in Serbia, but the possession of weapons in this country is among the highest in Europe. / REL