At least six individuals have tragically lost their lives following a shooting at a care home in Croatia, prompting urgent calls for enhanced gun control measures in the region. The incident occurred in the eastern town of Daruvar, where five victims, including a staff member, were pronounced dead at the scene, while another succumbed to injuries at a nearby hospital.
Authorities reported multiple injuries, with four individuals in critical condition. The assailant fled the scene but was soon apprehended at a local café, found in possession of unregistered firearms.
President Zoran Milanovic expressed his shock over the “savage, unprecedented” mass shooting, urging for stricter regulations surrounding gun ownership. He described the incident as a significant warning to authorities regarding the urgent need to address violence in society.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic condemned the attack as “monstrous” and extended his condolences to the victims’ families. While Croatian officials have yet to disclose a motive for the shooting, it has been noted that the suspect’s mother resided at the care home for a decade. Reports suggest the individual may have been a war veteran with prior charges related to public disturbances and domestic abuse.
The incident has left the 7,000 residents of Daruvar in deep shock. Mayor Damir Lnenicek expressed disbelief over the occurrence in their community, emphasizing the rarity of mass shootings in Croatia.
With the care home housing around 20 residents at the time of the shooting, this tragic event is now among the deadliest in Croatian history since the nation gained independence in 1991. As noted in the 2017 Small Arms Survey, Croatia ranks 25th in Europe for gun ownership, with 13.2 firearms per 100 people. The recent violence has rekindled discussions about the need for stricter gun ownership regulations in the Balkan region, especially following the mass shootings in neighboring Serbia that left over 18 dead last year.
