A 39-year-old man died after blowing himself up, injuring five others, on Friday at the entrance to a court in the Montenegrin capital, Podgorica, police said.
The reasons for his action were not immediately known.
“
He activated the high-powered explosive device upon entering the court building, and died instantly.
There are also five injured people who have been hospitalized.
It shouldn't be serious injuries
,” Montenegrin criminal police chief Srdjan Korac told reporters.
The police cordoned off the area near the court shortly after the explosion, which occurred at the end of the morning, at the time of a large attendance of the establishment, reported an AFP journalist.
Damage is not visible outside the building.
Recurring security issues
The president of this court of first instance, Zeljka Jovicevic, who spoke to the press, deplored shortcomings in terms of security in Montenegrin courts in general.
"
We've been reporting the problem for years, we've been talking about it for three years (...) It fortunately ended like this, but it could have been much worse
," she said.
President of the National Bar Council Zdravko Begovic also warned of security failures.
“
It is the busiest court and anyone can enter it without control.
This must be seriously taken into account
,” Begovic said.
Violent incidents are relatively rare in this small Adriatic country known for its picturesque mountain-fringed beaches that attract many tourists.
In August, the country was shaken by a massacre in the town of Cetinje (center) in which a madman killed 10 people, including two children, before being himself shot dead by a civilian.
In this country where unemployment affects around 18% of the active population and where an average salary is less than 750 euros (800 dollars), the economy is largely based on income generated by tourism.
Organized crime and corruption remain two major problems for Montenegro which is negotiating its accession to the European Union.
SEE ALSO
- Pakistan: at least 47 dead and 150 injured in the explosion of a mosque
