CETINJE: At least 10 people were killed and four seriously wounded in a mass shooting in southern Montenegro on Wednesday, according to Interior Minister Danilo Saranovic. The attack, which took place in the city of Cetinje, has prompted a significant response from security forces as they work to apprehend the suspect.

According to Anadolu Agency, the identified assailant, 45-year-old Aco Martinovic, is believed to have killed the owner of a bar in the Bajice district of Cetinje, along with the bar owner's children and members of his own family. Martinovic then left the bar with his weapon and fled the scene, authorities reported.

Interior Minister Saranovic stated that security forces have been mobilized to locate and apprehend Martinovic, who remains at large. Residents have been urged to stay indoors as the search continues. "The attacker is dangerous and armed, but he is about to be cornered," Saranovic said, highlighting the urgency of the situation.

National media sources have revealed that Martinovic was previously detained for illegal possession of weapons, adding another layer to the developing investigation. In response to the tragedy, Montenegrin President Jakov Milatovic has expressed his condolences to the families of the victims.

Prime Minister Milojko Spajic has visited the Montenegro Clinical Center, where the four wounded individuals are receiving treatment. Spajic noted that the injured were undergoing surgery, reflecting the severity of their conditions.

In the wake of the attack, the Montenegrin government has declared three days of national mourning. The incident has also drawn reactions from neighboring countries, with leaders from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia offering their condolences.

Reports indicate that the shooting was triggered by a fight that broke out at the bar, though further details remain under investigation.