Six killed in Czech hospital
shooting
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| Vigil for shooting victims in Ostrava (ANSA) |
The government of the Czech Republic has confirmed that a
gunman with an illegal weapon shot dead six people and wounded three more in a
hospital waiting room in the Czech city of Ostrava. After the attack the gunman
took his own life.
By Stefan J. Bos
Armed police rush to the Ostrava university hospital's
trauma clinic. It is here where a waiting room was turned into a bloodbath.
The hospital's director says a gunman opened fire without
warning hitting nine patients. At least four men and two women were killed in
the early morning shooting. Three others were wounded, two seriously. All
of the victims were patients at the hospital.
Officials said the 42-year-old suspect used an illegally
held Czech-made 9 mm gun. Soon after the shooting, he fled the scene.
Several hundred police officers than launched an extensive search, using
two helicopters, for the suspect and his silver-gray Renault Laguna car.
Suicide shooting
Three long hours later, security forces found the suspect in
the vehicle. But Interior Minister Jan Hamacek said he shot himself in the
head as they approached. The man died from his injuries about half an hour
later.
Hamacek said police would be investigating his motive, which
remains unclear.
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babic called it "a huge
tragedy." He said in a statement that it was "an unfortunate,
individual act." The government said there was no danger anymore for
the public.
Deadly shootings remain rare in the Czech Republic, which is
a European Union member state. But there have been concerns about many
illegal weapons in Eastern Europe and the Balkans.
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