BELGRADE, May 8 -- Serbia has increased police presence at schools across the country after two mass shootings last week left 17 dead and more than 20 wounded. The shootings happened within 48 hours.
"As of today, the presence of the police has increased in all primary and secondary schools in Serbia," said Police Major Danijela Ostojic from the Police Directorate, adding they will be a "constant presence" during class hours.
She said that more than 120 student threats and posts of inappropriate content on social networks had been reported in Serbia in the past few days.
"For this reason, the ministry once again appeals to all citizens to preserve sanity and stability, especially when it comes to our children who follow information from various sources and media. Their profiles on social networks must be under parental control," Ostojic said.
In an address to the nation on May 5, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced that police would increase patrols in the streets and schools in the upcoming weeks to help the public regain the feeling of security.
"Serbia will employ 1,200 new police officers, and 1,000 of them will be in charge of schools in the next six months," the president said. He expressed confidence that a police presence around schools "will reduce violence by 80 percent in less than a year."
Vucic also announced extensive weapons and ammunition controls. All citizens with weapons -- estimated at about 400,000 -- will undergo an audit, he said.
On May 3 a 13-year-old suspect opened fire at the Vladislav Ribnikar Elementary School in Belgrade, killing eight fellow students and a security guard and injuring six more students and a teacher.
The suspect, who used two guns owned by his father, had been planning the attack for months, officials said.
Two days later, another mass murder took place in Serbia.
At least eight people were killed and 14 wounded on May 5 after a gunman in a moving car opened fire at pedestrians from a moving car in several villages near Mladenovac, 50 kilometers south of Belgrade.
The 21-year-old suspect is alleged to have used an automatic weapon.
After arresting the suspect, police searched carried out a search of premises he used, finding a Kalashnikov assault rifle, four grenades, and loads of ammunition.