A gunman has shot dead six people in a nursing home in the Croatian town of Daruvar, some 130 kilometers (80 miles) east of the capital, Zagreb, Croatian media and officials reported on Monday.

According to the media report, five people died immediately, including his mother and one care worker. Seven were hospitalized and one later died from the injuries sustained.

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

The suspect fled the scene, but the police soon caught him in a cafe near the facility, the report said.

What do we know about the suspect?

Regional television N1 reported that the gunman was born in 1973 and was a former policeman who fought in Croatia's war of independence during the breakup of Yugoslavia from 1991 to 1995. 

According to police, the man had a history of domestic violence and public disorder.

Police officials said in a statement that they were carrying out an investigation, but gave no details.

Shooting shocks the country

Croatian President Zoran Milanovic said he was "shocked" by the "savage, unprecedented crime." Following the shooting, Milanovic called on the country's institutions to restrict private gun ownership.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that "We are appalled with the killing of five people in the Daruvar nursing home."  

There are many weapons kept in private homes in Croatia after the bloody breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s. Shootings in the Balkan country are, however, rare. 

Daruvar, which has some 7,000 permanent residents, has long been a popular spa destination thanks to thermal springs in the area. 

tj,dh/rm (AP, Reuters)