Two shootings in the span of just two days have alarmed residents of East Sarajevo after two people were seriously injured in separate firearm attacks in busy parts of the city. The incidents, which occurred near the city centre and close to a children’s playground, have raised concerns about public safety and prompted an intensive police investigation.
The latest shooting was reported shortly before 9 p.m. on Tuesday, when police received information that a firearm had been used in the city centre, leaving one person injured. The attack came only a day after another shooting in almost the same area, in which another individual was wounded.
The Head of the East Sarajevo Police Department, Branimir Šehovac, said police officers are actively working on the ground to identify and apprehend those responsible for both incidents.
The shootings have unsettled residents, particularly because they occurred in heavily frequented public areas. East Sarajevo Mayor Ljubiša Ćosić acknowledged that citizens are anxious but expressed confidence that the competent institutions will respond effectively.
He said the Ministry of Interior of Republika Srpska would take all measures within its jurisdiction and issued a public appeal to those involved in criminal groups to end their confrontations and stop endangering public safety.
“This is a public call to everyone directly or indirectly involved. Stop doing this in our city. Remember that you are fathers and parents, that you live here or have lived here, and that you should respect the work of the institutions and behave in accordance with the law,” Ćosić said. He also argued that the judiciary has been too slow in responding to such cases.
Sociologist Srđan Vukadinović described the current situation as one in which citizens live in a “risky society” rather than merely an unsafe one, explaining that such an environment threatens fundamental rights, including the right to life.
According to Vukadinović, criminal groups often operate according to their own internal codes, while weaknesses within state institutions contribute to the persistence of organized crime. He warned that although these violent confrontations are generally directed at rival groups, innocent bystanders can become victims if they happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The recent attacks follow another serious shooting that took place nearly two months ago at the Vraca Memorial, where three people were injured, adding to growing concerns over escalating gun violence in East Sarajevo.
Authorities continue their investigation into the latest shootings as residents await arrests and stronger measures to restore security in the city.
