Croatia shooting: Gunman opens fire inside elderly care home killing at least five people

An armed attacker has entered a care home for older people in central Croatia and opened fire, killing five people and wounding several others, authorities and media reports said.

The Index news portal said five people died immediately, while others were still receiving medical assistance.

The suspect fled the scene, but the police caught him in a cafe near the home in the town of Daruvar, the report said.

"We are appalled by the murder of five people in the Home for the Elderly in Daruvar," Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic wrote on X.

"We express our condolences to the families of the victims and hope for the recovery of the wounded."

Police said they were informed after 10am on Monday that a man using firearms had killed and wounded several people at the nursing home.

The suspect is "under police supervision," said a statement by the regional police office.

The N1 regional television station reported that the gunman was born in 1973, was a former fighter from the 1991-95 war in Croatia, and a relative of one of the nursing home's residents.

The mayor of Daruvar, Damir Lnenicek, told N1 that everyone was shocked by the murder.

"What is the cause, the trigger, it is difficult to say, that will be determined by the investigation," said Mr Lnenicek, adding that the tragedy happened in a private home where about 20 people are housed.

He said it is an excellent home.

Croatian President Zoran Milanovic said he was "shocked" by "the savage, unprecedented crime".

"It is a frightening warning and a last call to all competent institutions to do more to prevent violence in the society, including even more rigorous control of gun ownership," he said.

Daruvar is a spa town in the municipality of Slavonia, with a population of 8,500.

Authorities are investigating the motive behind the attack.

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