Armed Violence Monitor: 756 firearm incidents reported in the October-December 2021 period

SEESAC’s latest Quarterly Armed Violence Monitor report, covering October-December 2021 period, is now available.

With 756 cases reported1, the last quarter of 2021 observed the lowest number of firearm incidents reported quarterly in 2021, accounting for 22.9% of all firearm incidents reported (756 out of 3,300).

With 393 weapon seizure cases, this type of incident was the most reported one in Q4 2021. This was a positive trend that was maintained throughout the year. Throughout 2021, handguns and explosives were most frequently seized.

A total of 142 incidents in the criminal context were recorded in Q4 2021, of which 90 were related to armed robberies. The number of this type of incidents was fluctuating but in decrease from Q1 to Q4. Compared to 2020, the total number of incidents related to armed robberies decreased from 126 to 90 in 2021.

In the last quarter of 2021, 40 deaths, 69 injuries and 7 suicides were reported. A total of 156 people were killed in 2021, which is the same number of reported murders in 2020.

A total of 4,002 perpetrators were reported last year, of which 999 were reported only in Q4. The number remained stable throughout each quarter.

In Q4, majority of incidents were reported at homes (217), in streets (157) and in shops (35). This was valid for the entire 2021.

To read the whole report, please click here, and to follow the information published on AVMP, please click here.

 

About the Armed Violence Monitoring Platform (AVMP)

The AVMP monitors firearms-related incidents happening in South East Europe. Established in 2014, it collects detailed data from the media reports and reports of public institutions where available, covering Albania, Bosnia, and Herzegovina, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Kosovo*.

The collected data range from the type of incident, firearms used, age and gender of the victim and the perpetrator, outcome of the incident, etc.

The AVMP aims to make essential data available to all interested parties and serve as an informative tool for interventions with the overarching goal of a more effective arms control framework and reducing their negative impact on civilians.

The AVMP is supported with funding from the EU Council Decision (CFSP) 2019/2111 to support SEESAC disarmament and arms control activities in South East Europe, reducing the threat of illicit small arms and light weapons their ammunition.

 

* References to Kosovo shall be understood in the context of the Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).

1 Data retrieved on 01.02.2022. Given that news articles may be published after the incidents occurred or that recorded incidents can be updated with new pieces of information, the given statistics may slightly differ in the future.

 

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