A tragic shooting at a nursing home in Daruvar, Croatia, on July 22, 2024, has left six people dead and six others injured, five of them seriously. The incident, which occurred around 10:00 local time, has shocked the small town of about 8,500 residents and the entire nation.The attacker, identified as a 51-year-old former military policeman and veteran of the 1991-95 Croatian War, entered the private care home and opened fire. Among the victims was the shooter’s own mother, who had been living in the facility for 10 years. The other victims included residents and at least one employee of the home.After the attack, the gunman fled the scene but was quickly apprehended by police at a nearby café. According to local reports, he had visited the café before the shooting, treating customers to drinks and saying he was going to ‘do something’. The suspect was found in possession of an unregistered firearm.Croatian Police Chief Nikola Milina confirmed that five people died at the scene, while a sixth victim succumbed to injuries at a hospital in Virovitica. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, though neighbors interviewed by local media suggested the shooter had a history of alcohol-related problems.The incident has prompted swift responses from top government officials. Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic described the attack as a ‘monstrous act of mass murder’ and called for a thorough investigation. President Zoran Milanovic condemned the ‘savage and unprecedented crime’ and urged for stricter control of weapons to prevent similar incidents in the future.This tragic event has raised serious questions about public safety and gun control in Croatia. As the community of Daruvar grieves, authorities continue their investigation into the circumstances surrounding this devastating attack.
Key points
- A shooting at a nursing home in Daruvar, Croatia, resulted in six deaths and six injuries.
- The shooter, a 51-year-old former military policeman, killed his own mother who had been living in the facility for 10 years.
- Croatian officials, including the Prime Minister and President, have called for stricter gun control measures in response to the incident.
Contradictions👾Some sources initially reported five deaths, while later reports confirmed six fatalities, indicating evolving information as the situation developed.
