Eight youngsters and a safety guard have been killed after a 14-year-old boy opened hearth on his instructor and different college students in a faculty taking pictures in Serbia, the nation's inside ministry has mentioned.

The teenager has been named by police as seventh-grade pupil Kosta Kecmanovic.

Officers have mentioned he used his father's gun for the assault on the Vladislav Ribnikar elementary college within the capital Belgrade.

Milan Nedeljkovic, mayor of the central Vracar district the place the varsity is situated, mentioned the instructor is preventing for her life after being shot.

Six youngsters who have been injured are additionally being handled with one in all them, a lady, in a life-threatening situation.

Meanwhile, physique baggage have been seen being carried out of the varsity following the tragedy.

The Serbian authorities has introduced three days of mourning from 5 to 7 May and lessons will begin with a minute's silence once they resume tomorrow.

The suspect has been arrested with footage displaying his head lined as officers led him to a automobile parked close by.

Police have recognized him solely by his initials KK and mentioned he was arrested within the schoolyard.

He reportedly shot his instructor first earlier than opening hearth on fellow college students and safety guards.

His motive stays unclear as police examine the taking pictures.

Suspect was a 'quiet' pupil

Officers in helmets and bulletproof vests have cordoned off the world after the assault at round 8:40am native time (7:40am UK time).

Reports in Serbia say terrified dad and mom arrived on the college looking for their youngsters.

A pupil who witnessed a part of the taking pictures has mentioned she was in the identical class because the suspect.

She mentioned: "He was a quiet guy, he looked nice, he had good grades, but we didn't know much about him. He was not so open with everybody. Definitely I wasn't expecting this to happen."

Speaking about what she witnessed because the taking pictures unfolded, she mentioned: "I was downstairs, we had sports class downstairs, I was able to hear the shooting.

"It was continuous, it was not like one shot on the time, it was taking pictures with out stopping.

"I didn't know what was happening, we were receiving some messages on the phone. Some kids from 7th grade second class were not replying, so we were in real fear."

'He began taking pictures randomly'

Astrid Merlini, the mom of a pupil who witnessed a part of the taking pictures, mentioned: "My child survived this, you can't imagine, she saw a man falling down, shooting, she was running away, she thought the boy with gun would run after her.

"She is in shock, however she agreed to speak, however she is filled with adrenaline."

Milan Milosevic mentioned his daughter was within the classroom the place the taking pictures started.

He informed broadcaster N1: "She managed to escape. [The boy] ...first shot the teacher and then he started shooting randomly."

He added: "I saw the security guard lying under the table. I saw two girls with blood on their shirts. They say he [the shooter] was quiet and a good pupil. He recently joined their class."

A lady who attends a highschool adjoining to Vladislav Ribnikar informed state TV RTS: "I saw kids running out from the school, screaming. Parents came, they were in panic. Later I heard three shots."

Mass shootings are comparatively uncommon in Serbia, which has very strict gun legal guidelines.

But the western Balkans are awash with tons of of 1000's of unlawful weapons following wars and unrest within the Nineteen Nineties.

Serbian authorities have issued a number of amnesties for house owners handy in or register unlawful weapons.

In the final mass taking pictures in 2013, a Balkan battle veteran killed 13 individuals in a central Serbian village.