Nis: Man Arrested Over Fake Gun Threat at School

Police in Nis have arrested M. J. (47), a Nis resident suspected of spreading false information about a gun and a so called hit list at a local high school. He was detained on order of the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in Nis, on suspicion of committing the criminal offense of causing panic and disorder. B. I. (53), also from Nis, has been criminally reported through regular proceedings, on suspicion that the post originally came from his profile.

“Officers of the Interior Ministry in Nis arrested M. J. on order of the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in Nis, over grounds for suspicion that he committed the criminal offense of causing panic and disorder,” the Nis Police Department said in a statement.

M. J. is suspected of sharing a claim on social media that a minor student at a Nis high school had brought a gun to school and had a hit list. Media reports identify the school as the Economic School in Nis, with some reports naming a first year student. Police suspect M. J. took the post from B. I.’s profile, which had been visible to a small number of people. M. J. was held for up to 48 hours and will be brought before the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in Nis along with the criminal report. Police announced the arrest on the evening of September 18.

The School: No List Exists

The story about the gun and the hit list has been circulating since the previous week. The Economic School received information about the alleged list and reported it the same day to the Nis Police Department, the relevant public prosecutor’s office and the Nis School Administration.

“No case of a gun being brought into the Economic School was recorded, nor was any weapon found on school premises,” read a statement signed by school principal Vladimir Kuzmanovic.

The school added that after a police check it was informed the list in question does not exist.

“As soon as we received that information, the Nis Police Department, the relevant public prosecutor’s office and the Nis School Administration were notified, so the claims could be checked and measures taken within their authority,” the school said.

According to Danas, police also informed the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Center for Social Welfare about the progress of the inquiry.

Parents Gather Outside the School

Despite the school’s statement, some parents of students at the Economic School and the Legal and Business School gathered outside the building on September 18, seeking more information.

“We saw a call to gather on social media, that is why we came, and of course we are worried about our children’s safety because of these rumors,” one of the fathers present said.

Ombudsman Opens an Inquiry

Ombudsman Zoran Pasalic opened an inquiry on September 18 into the work of the Economic School in Nis and the Interior Ministry, over claims that a student had brought a gun to school and had a hit list. The inquiry aims to establish whether the school and the relevant Interior Ministry bodies took all measures within their authority to protect the rights and best interests of students.

Pasalic announced that on Monday, September 21, he will visit in person to check what the school and other relevant bodies have done so far. If the inquiry finds shortcomings, he will take measures within his authority to address them.

This newsroom had not previously covered this story.