DARUVAR, CROATIA – A mass shooting occurred in a care home for the elderly in Daruvar, a quiet town located in central Croatia. The event resulted in six fatalities and left six other individuals injured, according to the police. The Prime Minister of Croatia stated that the victims were primarily in their 90s.
The armed assailant reportedly entered the care facility and began firing at residents and staff. Five individuals lost their lives immediately, and a sixth person died in a hospital afterward. The suspect fled the scene, but was later apprehended by the police in a café nearby.
Among the victims were five care home residents and a staff member. Residents reported that the suspect, a former policeman who had served during the Croatian war in 1991-1995, was known to be aggressive. His mother was among the victims, having resided in the care home for the past decade.
The incident has shocked the local community, with residents and relatives of care home residents waiting outside the facility for more information. Croatian President Zoran Milanovic expressed his shock over the “savage, unprecedented crime”. He called for a stricter control over gun ownership and emphasized the importance of further efforts to prevent violence in the society.
The local police mentioned an unregistered gun was used in the incident. The investigation into the devastating mass shooting is ongoing.