Police arrest two suspects in murder of Zagreb couple

Police arrested two suspects early Tuesday in the double-murder in Zagreb's Markuševec suburb four days ago.

A couple was shot and killed on Friday evening in the garage of the home they were renting. Neighbors said they heard several gunshots and spotted two suspicious vehicles near the home. It was the movement of the vehicles following the killings that led police to the suspects.

One of the men arrested, who is believed to be the shooter, was a member of an elite military unit charged with protecting Croatia's president. The other suspect is believed to have acted as the driver.

Early this morning a police tactical team arrested the suspected shooter, aged 29, who reportedly returned home after a shift guarding the president's offices at Pantovčak. The other suspect is 31. Police have not released the identities of the suspects.

Police have also not said anything about what could have been the motive for the shooting. Some local media have reported that it could be financial. Police are looking into a possible connection between the shooter and the victim's former husband who were me part of the same on-line community and exchanged messages on social media.

The news that the main suspect is a member of the armed forces, and of a unit guarding the president, no less, has raised questions about screening and vetting practices in the military. Lawmakers expressed shock over the news.

"This is alarming and we should check who is part of the ceremonial guard. It's a shock to the system," said GLAS MP Anka Mrak Taritaš.

"Either the security services made a mistake or there was nothing in this person's prior behavior that would suggest something like this. Will find out soon enough," said SDP MP Arsen Bauk.

Justice Minister Damir Habijan said security background checks are performed regularly and carefully.

Authorities in Zagreb say that the city is safe and that every murder that has occurred in recent years has been solved.

"This year and going back another ten, if my information is correct, all murders in the city of Zagreb have been solved, that is, police caught the perpatrator," said Mayor Tomislav Tomašević.