Last year, Serbia experienced its first-ever school shooting that left nine children and a school guard dead, and six others injured. A year later, hundreds of people gathered at the Vladislav Ribnikar Elementary School in Belgrade to lay flowers and light candles in memory of the victims. The shooting, committed by a 13-year-old boy who used his father’s guns, shocked the nation. Mass shootings are rare in Serbia, and the country had never experienced a school shooting before. Just a day after the school shooting, another tragedy struck when a 20-year-old man went on a shooting rampage, killing nine and injuring 12, mostly young people.
The memorial event held on the anniversary of the school shooting was titled “Awakening,” urging the country to reflect on its past and the prevalence of violence that has persisted since the Balkan wars in the 1990s. The event included art installations, a panel discussion, and short films about the victims. The street where the school is located was closed to traffic, and Serbian television stations interrupted their broadcasts to pay respect to the victims. The mother of one of the victims expressed her hope that such a horrific crime would never happen again, while a psychology professor emphasized the importance of learning from past mistakes to prevent future tragedies.
The parents of the slain children have been advocating for the closure of the school and transforming it into a memorial center. They have organized protests and remembrance events to raise awareness among the public and to ensure that their children’s deaths are not forgotten. The Serbian government responded to the shooting by launching a gun crackdown, collecting thousands of weapons and rounds of ammunition. Support teams offered counseling, and police officers were deployed outside schools to enhance security. President Aleksandar Vucic acknowledged the lasting impact of the tragedy on the nation, stating that it had left a permanent scar on the collective soul of the country.
Both suspects in the shootings were apprehended, with the parents of the alleged school shooter facing trial for allegedly teaching their underage son to shoot and not securing the weapons in their home. The boy has been held in an institution since the attack, while the trial is ongoing. The trial of the other suspect and his father is set to begin in the coming month in the town of Smederevo. The shootings sparked outrage and protests, with demands for the resignation of top officials and a ban on media promoting hate speech and intolerance.
The commemoration of the school shooting in Serbia served as a somber reminder of the tragic event that shook the nation. It highlighted the need for introspection and reflection on the culture of violence that has persisted in the country. The victims’ families continue to fight for justice and remembrance, while the government has taken steps to prevent such incidents from happening again. The shootings have left a lasting scar on Serbia, prompting a call for unity and action to address the underlying issues that led to these tragedies.
