Second mass shooting in two days rocks Serbia

A suspect has been arrested following the second mass shooting in Serbia in a week.

Eight people have been killed and 14 wounded in the shooting in the village of Dubona, 42 km (26 miles) south of Belgrade. The incident took place late on Thursday night.

According to state broadcaster RTS, the suspect had been involved in an altercation in a school yard. He then left and returned with an assault rifle and a handgun and then shot at people at random from a moving car.

Around 600 police were involved overnight in the search for the suspect, along with a helicopter and drones.

A statement from the Interior Ministry said: "The suspect U.B., born in 2002, has been apprehended in the vicinity of the city of Kragujevac, he is suspected of killing eight people and wounding 14 overnight."

The investigation is ongoing.

The news comes just as the country began three days of mourning following a shooting on Wednesday at a school in Belgrade in which nine people were killed and seven injured.

Following Wednesday's shooting, the Serbian government introduced a two-year ban on the issuing of new gun permits, a revision of existing permits and checks on how gun owners store their arms.

According to the 2018 Small Arms Survey, Serbia ranks third in the world for gun ownership, behind the US and Yemen, with 39 firearms per 100 people. However, gun control is strict and mass shootings are comparatively rare in Serbia.

Gun ownership is only possible with a permit issued after a police background check. A medical exam is also needed and this must be repeated every five years. Potential gun owners must have no no history of crime, mental disorder, alcohol or illegal substance use. Firearms must be stored locked in a designated gun cabinet, and may be confiscated if the owner is found to be irresponsible. As well as this, gun owners must pass a training course and a questionnaire about gun legislation.

Permits usually mean that gun owners cannot carry the gun outside of the home. Concealed carry permits are very rare.

In 2007, nine people were killed and five injured in Jabukovac.

In 2013 14 people were killed in Velika Ivanca. The attacker then died by suicide.

In 2015, a man killed six guests at his son's wedding. He was then killed by another man at the scene.

Then in 2016, five people were killed with an assault rifle in Zitiste.

Despite the high gun ownership, two mass shootings in two days is incredibly rare for Serbia.

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