UPDATE - Former military official kills 6 people, including his mother, at nursing home in Croatia

CHANGES LEDE, DECK; MORE DETAILS ON SUSPECT; INCREASE IN DEATH TOLL

By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) – A former military police official on Monday shot and killed six people, including his mother, at a nursing home in Croatia's Daruvar city.

Five people died immediately, while several others received injuries in the attack and are being treated, according to media reports.

One victim was taken to a hospital in critical condition in Virovitica town, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) from Daruvar, and died later.

The suspect is reportedly a 51-year-old retired military policeman identified as K.P. who killed his mother, four other residents and an employee.

He also shot six others, who were taken to hospitals for treatment, according to local media.

The suspect initially fled the scene, but the police later caught him in a cafe.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said his Deputy Davor Bozinovic, Health Minister Vili Beros and Labor, Family Minister Marin Piletic will visit the scene.

"We are appalled by the murder of five people in the Home for the Elderly in Daruvar. We express our condolences to the families of the victims and hope for the recovery of the wounded. I expect the competent authorities to establish all the circumstances of the terrible crime," Plenkovic said on X.

Daruvar Mayor Damir Lnenicek told local broadcaster N1 that everyone is shocked by the attack.

President Zoran Milanovic, in a separate statement, said he is shocked by "the savage crime".

"The savage, unprecedented crime in Daruvar shocked me. It is a frightening warning and a final call to all competent institutions to do more to prevent violence in society, including even more rigorous control of gun ownership.

“I expect the police and the state attorney's office to conduct a quick and thorough investigation in order to determine all the circumstances of this crime and punish those responsible," Milanovic stated on his Facebook account.

The nursing home owner, Ana Ivandekic, was also taken to a hospital after entering a state of shock.

The investigation is ongoing for the motive behind the attack.