At least six killed as ‘war veteran’ gunman storms nursing home and opens fire killing ‘his own mum’ in Croatia

AT least six people have been killed after a gunman opened fire at a nursing home in Croatia.

The "war veteran" stormed into the home and launched the frenzied attack in the city of Daruvar killing six people - including his own mum.

The suspect fled the scene and was soon caught in a cafe near the facility, local media reported.

The gunman stormed the Vianey Home in Daruvar, 80 miles east of Zagreb and began shooting, leaving five people dead and several injured.

A sixth person later died in hospital, state broadcaster HRT said.

The gunman was identified by local media as 51-year-old Krešimir Pahoki, a retired military policeman.

In 1996, he was awarded the Homeland's Gratitude Medal - which is awarded to Croatian citizens for honourable and exemplary service.

The victims were five residents including his mum - who had been at the retirement home for ten years - and a caregiver.

The number of casualties was later confirmed by Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, who called for a thorough investigation.

"We are appalled by the murder of five people at the home for elderly in Daruvar," he said on social media.

"We express our condolences to the families of the victims and hope for the recovery of the wounded."

Police said they were informed at 10:10 am local time (0810 GMT), that a man using firearms killed and wounded several people at the nursing home.

Locals told media that shortly before the attack, Pahoki entered a coffee bar and appeared calm.

The suspect is under police supervision, according to a statement by the regional police office.

"It's hard for me to understand that this can happen in our town, country," Daruvar mayor Damir Lnenicek told N1 regional broadcaster.

Around 20 people lived in the nursing home at the time of the shooting, according to the mayor.

"What is the trigger? It's difficult to say, it will be determined by the investigation" Lnenicek added.

Croatia's President Zoran Milanovic also took to social media where he called the shooting "savage".

"It is a terrifying warning and a last call to all competent institutions to do more to prevent violence in society, including even more rigorous control of arms ownership," he said.

The head of a regional emergency care facility, Nenad Mrzlecki, told local media that medical teams found four dead at the scene and four others wounded, who were immediately taken to local hospitals.

"Our teams are still on the ground and the priority is to provide everyone with the necessary help, after that is done we will know the exact data on the number of victims," he said.

Daruvar is a spa town in the municipality of Slavonia, with a population of 8,500.

Authorities are investigating the motive behind the attack.

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