Quarterly Armed Violence Monitor: Key Findings from South East Europe, Q4 2025
SEESAC's latest Regional Armed Violence Monitor reveals the prevailing patterns of firearm incidents in South East Europe during October–December 2025. While weapon seizures continued to dominate among recorded incidents, reflecting strong law enforcement efforts across the region, the quarter was also marked by a sharp rise in incidents involving explosive devices, nearly double compared to the previous period, driven largely by seizures of pyrotechnic devices.
- 861 firearm incidents were recorded, marking a slight decline compared to the previous quarter and an 8% decrease compared to the same period in 2024.
- 469 cases involved weapon seizures, accounting for 54% of all cases and remaining the most commonly reported type of incident, increasing steadily throughout the quarter.
- Incidents in the criminal context totalled 122 cases, with a notable rise in December following a decline in November, while domestic violence incidents accounted for 30 cases.
- Firearm-related fatalities declined from 40 to 26, most often reported in the criminal context (9 victims).
- The number of injured people rose from 66 to 79 victims, while the number of those suffering threats involving firearms declined from 107 to 89 victims.
- Incidents involving handguns were the most frequently reported (249 cases), though their number declined by 7% compared to the previous quarter.
- Incidents with explosive devices nearly doubled, with 124 cases recorded. A total of 55 cases involved seizures of pyrotechnic devices, showing a seasonal pattern observed in previous years.
- In 72% of all incidents, firearms were in illegal possession, underscoring the continued challenge of illicit weapons.
The Regional Quarterly Armed Violence Monitors provide evidence-based insight into the contexts and consequences of firearm use and support shaping policies aimed at reducing armed violence and strengthening public safety.
The full Regional Quarterly Armed Violence Monitor is available here.
About the Armed Violence Monitoring Platform (AVMP)
The Armed Violence Monitoring Platform (AVMP) has been tracking firearm incidents in South East Europe since 2014. It collects detailed data from media and public institution reports covering the Western Balkans and Moldova.
The collected data encompasses the type of incident, firearms used, victim/perpetrator demographics, and the outcome of the incident, among others, providing essential insights for arms control efforts and policymaking. By making this data accessible, the platform supports targeted interventions to reduce the impact of armed violence on civilians.
The AVMP is currently supported by funding from the EU Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/3006 to support SEESAC disarmament and arms control activities in South Europe, thereby reducing the threat posed by illicit small arms, light weapons, and their ammunition.