TWO KILLED, THREE OTHERS INJURED AS BLAST ROCKS SOUTHERN MONTENEGRO

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In the most recent wave of violence associated with organized crime, a blast occurred on Thursday in Cetinje, a city in southern Montenegro, leaving at least two dead and three injured, according to authorities.

According to images shown on local media, the explosion happened just after 9:00 a.m. local time (0700 GMT) close to a sports facility. It broke the complex’s glass and uprooted a neighboring tree.

Subsequently, Aleksandar Radovic, the director of Montenegro’s police department, verified that “members of an organized criminal group” were murdered in the explosion.

The victims were reportedly members of the “Skaljari” group, a criminal clan from the Adriatic seaside town of Kotor, according to prior reports in the Montenegrin media.

“This day must never happen again,” Radovic told reporters, saying innocent bystanders were also injured by the blast.

“This is a red line. Montenegro cannot afford a single accidental victim,” he added.

The former royal capital, Cetinje, is located in a steep valley where the economy has mainly stalled.

There are regular conflicts between competing mafia clans in the area, which is home to organized crime gangs.

Montenegro has committed to addressing the continuing problems of organized crime and corruption. An explosive device was detonated in a courthouse in the capital city of Podgorica last year, resulting in the death of a man and five injuries.

In Cetinje two years ago, a shooter went on the rampage and killed ten people. These scourges are the result of EU pressure.

The small nation beside the Adriatic, with its attractive beaches and mountains drawing tourists, has comparatively few violent incidents.