Hundreds of people gathered in Belgrade, Serbia to honor the victims of the country’s first-ever school shooting that took place a year ago. The shooting resulted in the deaths of nine children and a school guard, with six others wounded. The tragic event shocked the nation, as mass shootings are rare in Serbia, and no such incident had ever occurred in a school before. In the aftermath of the school shooting, a 20-year-old man carried out a shooting rampage outside the capital, further adding to the country’s grief and disbelief.
The anniversary of the school shooting was marked by a solemn vigil at the Vladislav Ribnikar Elementary School, with mourners laying flowers and lighting candles in memory of the victims. The event, titled “Awakening,” aimed to encourage introspection within a society that has struggled to come to terms with its violent past and the prevailing culture of violence. Parents of the slain children have been advocating for the closure of the school and its transformation into a memorial center. They have organized protests and remembrance events to raise awareness and prevent future tragedies.
The tragic school shooting prompted the Serbian government to launch a crackdown on guns, collecting about 80,000 weapons and rounds of ammunition. State-backed support teams offered counseling, and police officers were stationed outside schools to enhance security. The parents of the alleged school shooter have been charged with teaching their son to shoot and failing to secure the weapons at home. The trial of the suspects is ongoing, with the boy held in an institution since the attack. Another trial related to the shooting rampage outside the capital is scheduled to begin later this month.
The anniversary of the school shooting evoked a sense of shock and anger among the Serbian population, leading to months of street protests demanding the resignation of top officials and a ban on hate speech and intolerance in the media. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic acknowledged the lasting impact of the tragedy, stating that it has left a permanent scar on the nation’s soul. The commemoration event included art installations, panel discussions, and short films about the victims to ensure that the memory of those lost is not forgotten. The call for introspection and prevention of future violence remains at the forefront of the nation’s collective consciousness as it continues to heal from the trauma of the school shooting.
