Gunman shoots six dead in Czech hospital

The gunman opened fire in waiting room before fleeing and later killing himself

Czech shooting
Police were called to the hospital in Ostrava shortly after 7am local time
(Image credit: Getty Images)

At least six people have been killed and a further two seriously injured in a shooting at a hospital in the Czech Republic.

“After officers tracked down the gunman, he shot himself in the head before the emergency services had a chance to intervene,” says The Telegraph.

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Officers had earlier appealed to the public to help in their search for the gunman, but warned that he should not be approached. They also tweeted an image of a person of interest.

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According to the BBC, police said they had established the suspect’s “name, had photographs of him and had obtained his vehicle licence plate number”.

Security across the Czech Republic has been boosted following the shooting.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis told Czech public television that he would be visiting the hospital today. “It’s something we’re not used to in our country. I absolutely don’t understand the motive of this young man,” Babis said.

President Milos Zeman tweeted his condolences to the victims and their families, saying: “I’m with you in my heart, I’m thinking of you in these tragic hours.”

The Independent reports that the “unexplained attack” is the “worst shooting in the country since eight people were killed at a restaurant in Uhersky Brod in 2015”.