• At least six killed in Croatia nursing home shooting
• The attack resulted in five immediate deaths, including a care home employee, a sixth victim died later in hospital
• Several others were injured, with four in critical condition
• The gunman fled the scene but was later caught at a cafe, carrying unregistered firearms
• The suspect, whose motive remains unclear, has been identified as having a history of public disturbances and domestic abuse

At least six killed in Croatia nursing home shooting

A tragic shooting at a care home in Daruvar, Croatia, has left at least six people dead, leading to urgent calls for stricter gun control in the country. The attack resulted in five immediate deaths, including a care home employee, a sixth victim died later in hospital. 

Several others were injured, with four in critical condition. The gunman fled the scene but was later caught at a cafe, carrying unregistered firearms.

Croatian President Zoran Milanovic expressed his shock over the “savage, unprecedented” incident, urging for more rigorous gun ownership regulations. He emphasised the need for stronger measures to prevent societal violence. Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic condemned the “monstrous attack” and offered condolences to the victims’ families.

The suspect, whose motive remains unclear, has been identified as having a history of public disturbances and domestic abuse. Unconfirmed reports suggest he may be a war veteran, and his mother had been a resident of the care home for a decade.

Eyewitnesses recounted the terrifying moments during the shooting. An employee described hiding under a bed and escaping through a window to safety. The town of Daruvar, home to around 7,000 residents, is in shock.

Mass shootings are rare in Croatia. This incident is among the deadliest since the country declared independence in 1991. Croatia has a relatively high rate of gun ownership, with 13.2 guns per 100 people, according to the 2017 Small Arms Survey.

The massacre follows two mass shootings in neighbouring Serbia last year, which prompted many to surrender weapons during a government amnesty. This recent tragedy in Croatia has reignited the debate over gun control in the region.