Budapest, 22 July 2024 (dpa/MIA) - A man has killed six people in a retirement home in north-eastern Croatia, authorities said on Monday, with media outlets reporting that his mother was among the victims.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković described the crime in the small town of Daruvar as "monstrous," as police confirmed they have detained the suspect.

The man is said to have broken into the care home with a weapon and fired several shots.

Croatian media reported that at least five people were instantly killed, including one care worker and the man's mother.

Seven others were hospitalized, with one later dying of their injuries.

One care worker reportedly hid under a bed during the shooting as her boss fled out of a window.

News website mojportal.hr said the suspect was born in 1973 and was a retired military policeman. He reportedly received an award for services to the nation from Croatia's first president Franjo Tuđman in 1996.

Police said the man had a history of domestic violence and public disorder. Media described him as an alcoholic who had been seen drinking beer in a bar early on Monday.

In the wake of the shooting, President Zoran Milanović called on the country's institutions to restrict private gun ownership in a post on Facebook.

MIA file photo