The attack took place in a small spa town in Croatia
A shooting at a nursing home in Croatia has resulted in the deaths of five individuals, according to local media reports. The incident, which occurred in the small resort town of Daruvar, is alleged to have been perpetrated by a veteran of the country’s 1990s independence war.
According to the MojPortal news outlet, an armed man entered the facility on Monday morning and opened fire. Five people are reported to have been killed at the scene, with several others transported to the hospital.
Croatian President Zoran Milovic and Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic have extended their condolences to the families of the victims.
The alleged attacker is identified as 51-year-old Kresimir Pahoki, a former military police officer and veteran of the 1991-1995 war of independence, known in Croatia as the Homeland War.
The conflict stemmed from the dissolution of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, of which Croatia was a constituent republic alongside Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Macedonia.
The attacker was reportedly known to law enforcement for a prior assault on an acquaintance and is said to have struggled with alcohol abuse, according to the Index news portal.
Among the victims of the shooting was the assailant’s mother, who was a resident of the care home. Other casualties include residents and employees of the facility.
The attacker escaped following the shooting spree but was subsequently apprehended by police. Local authorities have indicated that an investigation into the incident is ongoing.
The care home, a private facility, is said to house approximately 20 individuals.
The town of Daruvar, located approximately 130 kilometers east of the Croatian capital, Zagreb, has a population of 8,500. Known for its numerous hot springs, the town is a popular destination for health tourism.