Security experts said on Monday the security of political institutions could be improved by relocating the government from St. Mark's Square in Zagreb or by setting up a security zone around the government and parliament buildings.

Speaking to state news agency Hina, Zeljko Cvrtila said this morning’s incident outside the government, in which a policeman was gravely wounded and the gunman who shot him committed suicide, could have been avoided with different security measures.

Better security could be achieved by relocating political institutions from St. Mark’s Square or by relocating the business and housing premises near the government and parliament buildings, he said.

The most realistic solution would be to expand the security area around the government and parliament buildings, controlling arriving and passing vehicles and pedestrians, added Cvrtila.

As for the remark that St. Mark’s Square was the historical centre of the city to which people should have access, he said the security of institutions should come first.

That would not threaten people’s freedom but restrict their movement in the immediate vicinity of the government and parliament, he added. “That’s normal in all functioning states. Institutions are protected and that’s the priority,” he said, adding that people did not need to walk by the walls of the two buildings.

Cvrtila said it would not be necessary to ban protests on St. Mark’s Square as access to it would be controlled.

Security expert Miroslav Tudjman said this morning’s incident could hardly have been avoided if committed by a deranged individual but that it could have been prevented if it was an organised or terrorist attack.

He is for relocating the government from St. Mark’s Square and building a new complex which would house all ministries bar those of defence, the interior and foreign affairs. He said parliament should be relocated to the current government building so that MPs could work under better conditions.

“In terms of security, that would be a better solution as many ministries would be in one place and have joint security.”

He said there was no need to panic because of a single case and that in comparison with other EU capitals, Zagreb was one of the safest.