Six dead in Czech hospital shooting
December 10, 2019
Four men and two women were killed and three others wounded in a shooting at the University Hospital in Ostrava, northeastern Czech Republic on Tuesday morning.
The attack happened around 7 a.m. (0600 GMT). A special police task force was at the scene and a helicopter was deployed.
Police published a photo of a person they initially identified as the alleged shooter but later clarified was a witness, saying they were also searching for another person.
Police said a man had shot himself in the head in a car they had been looking for as part of a manhunt for the assailant.
Illegally held firearm
"We have captured the shooting assailant. The 42-year old man had shot himself in the head before police took action, he is dead," police said.
Interior Minister Jan Hamacek said police will be investigating his motive.
"I'd like to assure the public that there's no danger anymore," Hamacek said.
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis told Czech public television the shooting took place in a waiting room.
President Milos Zeman expressed his deepest condolences to the survivors. He also thanked the law enforcement officers, the doctors and everyone who was helping.
The suspect used an illegally held Czech-made 9 mm gun, according to the regional police chief, Tomas Kuzel, who said police believe he acted alone.
Security across the Czech Republic was boosted following the shooting.
Ostrava is the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, located around 300 kilometers (190 miles) east of Prague near the borders of Poland and Slovakia.
Tuesday's incident was the worst shooting in the Czech Republic since a man shot eight people dead at a restaurant in Uhersky Brod in 2015.
Read more: Rare shooting spree in Czech Republic
If you are suffering from emotional strain or suicidal thoughts, seek professional help. You can find information on where to find help, no matter where you live in the world, at this website: befrienders.org
kw/rc (AFP, dpa, Reuters)
DW sends out a daily selection of the day's news and features. Sign up here.