A 14-year-old boy shot his instructor in a Belgrade classroom on Wednesday morning earlier than opening fireplace on different college students and safety guards, killing eight pupils and a safety guard, Serbia’s inside ministry mentioned.
Milan Milosevic, the daddy of one of many pupils on the Vladislav Ribnikar elementary faculty, mentioned his daughter was within the class the place the gun was fired.
“She managed to flee. (The boy) … first shot the instructor after which he began taking pictures randomly,” Milosevic informed broadcaster N1.
Milan Nedeljkovic, mayor of the central Vracar district the place the varsity is positioned, mentioned docs had been combating to avoid wasting the instructor’s life.
The inside ministry assertion mentioned eight youngsters and a safety guard had been killed and 6 youngsters had been hospitalised together with the instructor.
Police mentioned a seventh-grade scholar had been arrested.
“I noticed the safety guard mendacity underneath the desk. I noticed two ladies with blood on their shirts. They are saying he (the shooter) was quiet and a very good pupil. He not too long ago joined their class,” added Milosevic, who had rushed to the varsity after the taking pictures.
Officers in helmets and bulletproof vests cordoned off the world across the faculty.
“I noticed children working out from the varsity, screaming. Dad and mom got here, they had been in panic. Later I heard three pictures,” a lady who attends a highschool adjoining to Vladislav Ribnikar informed state TV Radio Tv of Serbia (RTS).
Casualties are being handled and an investigation into the motives behind taking pictures is underneath method, police mentioned in a press release.
Mass shootings are comparatively uncommon in Serbia, which has very strict gun legal guidelines. However the western Balkans are awash with lots of of hundreds of unlawful weapons following wars and unrest within the Nineties.
Serbian authorities have issued a number of amnesties for homeowners handy in or register unlawful weapons.