By John Ikani
A teenager opened fire at an elementary school in Belgrade on Wednesday, killing at least nine people, including eight children and a security guard, according to police reports.
The shooter, identified as a seventh-grade student, used his father’s gun in the attack at Vladislav Ribnikar Elementary School.
The incident also left at least six children and a teacher injured, who are receiving emergency treatment.
The motive for the shooting is unknown, and police have not disclosed any further details.
Milan Milosevic, the father of one of the students who witnessed the shooting, said that his daughter was in the classroom when the attack began.
“She managed to escape. (The boy) …first shot the teacher and then he started shooting randomly,” he told broadcaster N1. Milosevic rushed to the school as soon as he heard about the incident.
“I saw the security guard lying under the table. I saw two girls with blood on their shirts. They say he (the shooter) was quiet and a good pupil. He recently joined their class,” he added.
The shooter was arrested at the scene, and the police sent all available patrols to the school immediately.
Footage from the scene showed chaos outside the school as officers led the suspect, whose head was covered, to a car parked on the street.
The incident has shocked the country, as mass shootings are rare in Serbia, which has strict gun laws but many firearms from the wars of the 1990s are still in circulation.
