Six Dead in Shocking Croatian Nursing Home Mass Shooting
A brutal shooting at a nursing home in Daruvar, Croatia, has left six dead and several injured, sending shockwaves through the small town of 7,000. The tragedy unfolded on Monday, with five victims, including a staff member, dying at the scene and another succumbing to injuries in hospital.
Gunman on the Run Before Arrest
The attacker opened fire inside the care facility before fleeing. Police caught him hours later in a local cafe, seizing unregistered guns. Several others were wounded, with four in critical condition. The gunman’s identity remains under wraps, but reports hint he may be a war veteran with a history of public disturbances and domestic abuse. His mother had lived in the nursing home for ten years.
National Outcry for Stricter Gun Laws
President Zoran Milanovic blasted the “savage and unprecedented” attack, calling for tougher gun control to stop such horrors. Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic condemned the shooting and sent condolences to the victims’ families. This massacre marks one of Croatia’s deadliest since independence in 1991, fuelling fresh debate on gun ownership and public safety.
Community Grieves Amid Ongoing Safety Concerns
Local mayor Damir Lnenicek expressed deep sorrow as the close-knit spa town reels from the violence. At the time, around 20 elderly residents lived in the nursing home. Croatia ranks 25th in Europe for gun ownership, with 13.2 guns per 100 people, according to a 2017 survey. The tragedy follows a string of mass shootings in the Balkans, stirring urgent calls for reform and greater security.
