Police blocked a Banja Luka neighbourhood on Friday searching for the assassin of a man who has been recently released from jail for attempted murder and who was allegedly involved in several criminal acts, including robbery.

Slavisa Culum was shot as he was entering his car in front of his house in the Banja Luka neighbourhood of Dragocaj. He was recently released from jail where he served his sentence for trying to kill a man along with two accomplices.

Culum was also one of 14 suspects in a police crackdown on a criminal group which was behind eight robberies.

His brother, Nedeljko was killed in a shootout between two gangs ten years ago and Slavisa Culum had sworn he would kill everyone involved in the murder of his brother.

Dragocaj has been sealed off as the investigation is ongoing, police spokeswoman Mirna Miljanović said. She added that officers of the Department for Organized and Severe Crime are currently at the murder site. Anti-terrorist units are on stand-by and a police helicopter is cruising over the neighbourhood.

Culum’s assassin has been seen escaping on a motorcycle, according to witnesses. The shocked neighbours have locked themselves in their homes and are awaiting the arrest of the suspect.