“Deadly Shooting at Primary School in Serbia Leaves Nine Dead: Updates and Reactions”

In Serbia, people are saddened by the deadly shooting at a primary school this morning. A 13-year-old student from the school in the capital Belgrade shot and killed nine people. Six children and a teacher were injured.

“Today is a black day in Serbia’s history,” said President Aleksander Vucic. “Our country is in mourning.” A minute of silence will be held in all schools tomorrow. Three days of national mourning begin on Friday. Flowers are laid at the school for the victims.

Both of the student’s parents have been arrested. The boy himself cannot be prosecuted because he is still a minor. He has been admitted to a psychiatric clinic. According to President Vucic, the boy felt alone at school. “He didn’t feel accepted in his new class and so decided to commit this monstrous act.” A fellow student described him as a closed boy.

The attack was carefully planned, according to authorities. For example, he had made drawings of the school and would have had a list of fellow students he wanted to kill. The two firearms he used belonged to his father. He had a license and had them safely locked away in a safe, but the boy probably knew the code.

Teachers from other schools can hardly believe that the attack was committed. “I feel terrible, I have no words for it. This should never have happened,” says a teacher from another school.

The country has strict gun laws. School shootings are therefore rare. However, there are many illegal weapons in circulation because of the wars in the 1990s. Vucic announced that measures will be taken to better enforce the gun laws.