Shock, sadness and despair have been reigning since yesterday in Sanski Most, a quiet town where an unprecedented tragedy took place yesterday – a monstrous murder in the premises of the secondary school.
School employee Mehemed Vukalić killed the director of the Gymnasium Nijaz Halilović, the school secretary Nisveta Kljunić and the English teacher Gordana Midžan with an automatic rifle. He committed the murders at different locations in the school, after which he shot himself, but survived.
The Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Una-Sana Canton, Denis Osmankić, after yesterday’s tragic event in the high school in Sanski Most, said that no one is the same since yesterday.
“As of today, no one is the same anymore. Deeply shaken, disturbed and saddened, we are gathering strength to meaningfully respond to an unprecedented crime in a place and among people where violence simply does not belong,” Minister Osmankic said yesterday after the unprecedented tragedy.
While expressing his condolences to the families of the deceased, colleagues, children and parents, as well as the citizens of Sanski Most, he pointed out that they are determined to respond meaningfully with all the forces and resources, together with all partners and good people.
“Our priority is the well-being of our employees, children, parents and the entire community. In that name, the Ministry will already today offer concrete steps in providing psychosocial support to families, colleagues, children and all others who have been affected by this unprecedented and incomprehensible event. We are in the process of planning activities in schools throughout the canton with a special emphasis on the Sanski Most,” explained the minister.
He pointed out that primary and secondary schools in the Una-Sana Canton, for the benefit of everyone, will not be open today and tomorrow.
“In the days ahead, we will create a humane and empathetic environment for all, to return life to where it belongs. The Ministry, with the help of partners, promises to do its best to make schools and communities safe for all of us,” concluded Osmankic.
The Minister of Internal Affairs, Adnan Habibija, said that the activities of police officers will be intensified on the streets of Una-Sana Canton and institutions in the coming days.
In Sanski Most, as Mayor Faris Hasanbegović said, a three-day day of mourning will most likely be declared, while at the level of the Una-Sana Canton, the Day of Mourning should be on the day of the funeral/burial of those killed, Klix.ba writes.
Also, the Ministry of Education will make a decision today on the possible extension of the school year, and the reaction of the USK Cantonal Prosecutor’s Office to yesterday’s event is also expected.
Bosnian officials have condemned the attack and vowed to bring those responsible to justice. The mayor of Sanski Most, Faris Hasanbegović, expressed his condolences to the victims’ families and called for calm as the investigation continues. “This is a dark day for our town,” he said. “We stand united in the face of this senseless violence, and we will do everything in our power to ensure that justice is served.”
The shooting has left the community of Sanski Most in shock, with residents struggling to come to terms with the violence. Many have gathered near the site of the attack to pay their respects and to support the families of the victims.
The incident has also reignited concerns about the proliferation of firearms in the region, with calls for stricter gun control measures. Bosnia and Herzegovina has struggled with the legacy of its past conflicts, where weapons are still readily available, contributing to a series of violent incidents in recent years.
As the investigation unfolds, police are urging anyone with information about the shooter or the circumstances leading up to the attack to come forward. Security has been increased in the area, and local authorities are working closely with national law enforcement to prevent any further violence.
This tragic event marks one of the deadliest shootings in Sanski Most in recent memory, casting a pall over the town as it mourns the loss of innocent lives.
