This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/10/world/europe/czech-hospital-shooting.html
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Czech Hospital Shooting Leaves at Least 6 Dead | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A gunman killed six people on Tuesday after opening fire at close range in a hospital waiting room in the eastern Czech city of Ostrava, and a man who was believed to be the responsible for the relatively rare instance of gun violence in the country killed himself hours later as the police closed in, the authorities said. | A gunman killed six people on Tuesday after opening fire at close range in a hospital waiting room in the eastern Czech city of Ostrava, and a man who was believed to be the responsible for the relatively rare instance of gun violence in the country killed himself hours later as the police closed in, the authorities said. |
| The police said on Twitter that several hours after the shooting at University Hospital in Ostrava, a 42-year-old man who had been driving a silver-gray Renault Laguna shot himself in the head after officers fired at his vehicle. | The police said on Twitter that several hours after the shooting at University Hospital in Ostrava, a 42-year-old man who had been driving a silver-gray Renault Laguna shot himself in the head after officers fired at his vehicle. |
| The shooting was the deadliest in the country since 2015, when a gunman killed eight people at a restaurant in Uhersky Brod, about 180 miles southeast of Prague. | The shooting was the deadliest in the country since 2015, when a gunman killed eight people at a restaurant in Uhersky Brod, about 180 miles southeast of Prague. |
| Prime Minister Andrej Babis called the attack in Ostrava, near the border with Poland, a “great tragedy,” though much remained unclear, including the identity of the gunman and his motive. | Prime Minister Andrej Babis called the attack in Ostrava, near the border with Poland, a “great tragedy,” though much remained unclear, including the identity of the gunman and his motive. |
| Four men and two women were killed, the hospital director, Jiri Havrlant, told reporters. At least two people were seriously wounded in the shooting, the authorities said. | Four men and two women were killed, the hospital director, Jiri Havrlant, told reporters. At least two people were seriously wounded in the shooting, the authorities said. |
| The Associated Press reported that the clinic in Ostrava, about 220 miles east of Prague, was evacuated. The police also tightened security across the country. | The Associated Press reported that the clinic in Ostrava, about 220 miles east of Prague, was evacuated. The police also tightened security across the country. |
| Gun-related deaths are rare in Czech Republic, and gun ownership is comparatively low among European countries, but the nation has been an outlier on the Continent because of its efforts to loosen gun laws. | Gun-related deaths are rare in Czech Republic, and gun ownership is comparatively low among European countries, but the nation has been an outlier on the Continent because of its efforts to loosen gun laws. |
| The European Union introduced tighter controls on firearms two years after a series of coordinated assaults by Islamist extremists in Paris in 2015 left 131 people dead, including restrictions on the private use of semiautomatic rifles — a move the Czech Republic fought in court. | The European Union introduced tighter controls on firearms two years after a series of coordinated assaults by Islamist extremists in Paris in 2015 left 131 people dead, including restrictions on the private use of semiautomatic rifles — a move the Czech Republic fought in court. |
| The Czech Republic filed a lawsuit, arguing that legally held weapons had no connection with the fight against terrorism, and that the controls would discriminate against hunters. The Czech Parliament later approved legislation that put gun owners’ rights in the national Constitution. | The Czech Republic filed a lawsuit, arguing that legally held weapons had no connection with the fight against terrorism, and that the controls would discriminate against hunters. The Czech Parliament later approved legislation that put gun owners’ rights in the national Constitution. |
| The Czech Republic lost the legal battle last week, when the European Union’s top court dismissed its challenge. It was unclear what type of firearm the attacker used on Tuesday. | The Czech Republic lost the legal battle last week, when the European Union’s top court dismissed its challenge. It was unclear what type of firearm the attacker used on Tuesday. |
| The suspect died about half an hour after he shot himself, the interior minister, Jan Hamacek, said, according to The A.P. He added that a manhunt for the suspect had included two helicopters. | The suspect died about half an hour after he shot himself, the interior minister, Jan Hamacek, said, according to The A.P. He added that a manhunt for the suspect had included two helicopters. |
| “I’d like to assure the public that there’s no danger anymore,” Mr. Hamacek said. | “I’d like to assure the public that there’s no danger anymore,” Mr. Hamacek said. |
| Hana de Goeij contributed reporting. | Hana de Goeij contributed reporting. |