A shooting at the municipal office in the Czech village of Chřibská, in the Děčín region, left two people dead and six injured on Monday morning, Czech police and health authorities said.
Police responded to the incident at around 10 a.m. amid reports that an armed attacker had opened fire inside the municipal office, killing one employee and injuring six people, including three civilians and three police officers.
Among the injured was the village mayor, Jan Machač. Police later confirmed that the attacker also died, reportedly by suicide.
“The police did not wait for anything, they went to the building with the aim of eliminating the perpetrator, they returned fire… but the attacker died from his own weapon,” Police President Martin Vondrášek said.
In an initial message posted on X, police said, “The shooter has been eliminated. The building is safe! At this time, we can confirm that one woman and the shooter have died. We will update the number of injured.” Authorities later clarified that the second fatality was a man, not a woman, and confirmed that six people had been injured, at least one of them seriously.
Regional Police Director Zbyněk Dvořák said the motive was likely personal. “The motive of the shooter was probably relationship problems,” he said, as cited by Echo24, adding that terrorism had been ruled out.
iDNES later reported that the attacker was a local drug addict and the son of one of the city hall officials. Police confirmed he did not hold a firearms license and was carrying several illegally owned weapons, including two pistols and a rifle.
Two people with gunshot wounds to the chest were admitted to Masaryk Hospital in Ústí nad Labem, one of whom was transported by helicopter. Four other injured people were taken to the hospital in Děčín. All of those injured in the attack are reportedly out of danger.
Prime Minister Andrej Babiš expressed condolences after a government meeting, saying, “I would like to express my regret and condolences to all the bereaved.” President Petr Pavel also conveyed his condolences to the families and loved ones of those affected by the shooting.
