Article

2019-12-10 Europe

PRAGUE (Reuters) - A gunman shot dead six people on Tuesday at a hospital waiting room in the eastern Czech city of Ostrava in an unexplained attack, authorities said.

It was the worst shooting in the Czech Republic since a man shot eight people dead at a restaurant in Uhersky Brod in 2015.

Police said they received calls about a shooting at 7:19 a.m. (0619 GMT) at the University Hospital in Ostrava, near the border with Poland, and officers were on the scene five minutes later. They were still searching for the assailant.

Police posted on Twitter a picture of a man they initially identified as a suspect but later clarified was a witness, saying they were also searching for another person.

Czech Television reported police led a man out of the hospital in handcuffs but did not confirm if he was a suspect.

Prime Minister Andrej Babis told the same broadcaster the shootings occurred at close range in the waiting room, while Health Minister Adam Vojtech said six people had died.

The hospital was evacuated and police were working to secure surrounding areas. Hamacek and Babis headed to Ostrava, 350 km (217 mi) east of the capital Prague.

There was no word on possible motivation for the attack.

Update from the article at 5:00 p.m. ET:

The shooter was identified as Ctirad Vitasek, a construction technician at the AZ-INTERGRIPS company based in Opava, just north-east of Ostrava, by the firm’s Chairman Ales Zygula.

CRIMINAL RECORD
Zygula told Reuters Vitasek had been on medical leave for the past month and a half. He also told Czech Radio that Vitasek was convinced he was seriously ill and that no one wanted to cure him.

The suspect had a criminal record including instances of violence and theft, he said.

Posted by Besoeker 2019-12-10 04:42|| || Front Page|| [12 views ] Top

#1 There was no word on possible motivation for the attack.

Tell us the name and we'll tell you the why, Sherlocks.

Posted by Dron66046 2019-12-10 06:06|| 2019-12-10 06:06|| Front Page Top

#2 Police launched a manhunt after the suspect appeared to have fled the scene.

He was found dead in his vehicle a short time later from an apparent gunshot wound to the head.

Posted by Skidmark 2019-12-10 10:04|| 2019-12-10 10:04|| Front Page Top

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