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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
World
Fionnula Hainey

Czech Republic shooting: Six dead and two injured in Ostrava hospital attack

A gunman who opened fire at Czech hospital killed six people before turning the gun on himself.

A further two people were seriously injured when the 42-year-old launched the deadly attack at a hospital in Ostrava, Czech Republic, just after 7am this morning.

Police eventually tracked the gunman down to a vehicle where he had shot himself in the head, the Mirror reports.

According to Czech prime minister Andrej Babis, the shooter intentionally targeted his victims' heads and throats.

The hospital's director has confirmed that five people died at the scene and one during emergency surgery and that all the victims were patients at the hospital.

The gunman, wearing a red jacket, was said to be shooting in one of the outpatient traumatology wards of the university hospital.

Police released a CCTV image of a man walking down a hospital corridor who they believed was the shooter.

The hospital was evacuated and some people inside were forced to hide in a nursery.

Prague police spokesman Jan Daněk said: “Due to the event in Ostrava, the Prague police increased the security measures already in progress in connection with Advent.

"Specifically, police officers equipped with ballistic protection and long arms have been increased in their service in the vicinity of Prague hospitals.

"At the same time, let us contact hospitals, inform them of the situation and ask them to call 158 if there is any suspicion."

Today's incident is the worst shooting in the Czech Republic since a man shot eight people dead at a restaurant in Uhersky Brod in 2015.

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