Shooting at a municipal office in the Děčín district

Dramatic minutes at the town hall

Shortly before half past ten in the morning, police received a report of a shooting at the municipal office in Chřibská in the Děčín district, so all available patrols, an intervention unit and emergency crews including a helicopter immediately headed to the small foothill village. Sirens could be heard across the village, and the police also urged residents via social networks to avoid the scene.

According to current information, an armed man entered the office building while it was operating normally and began shooting at people in the offices and in the hallway. Some employees hid in the building's back areas, while others fled the scene in panic.

Toll of the attack and police response

The police confirmed that two men died in the attack, including the shooter, and another three people and one police officer sustained injuries of varying severity. It is not clear how the perpetrator died.

Rescuers said the injuries are serious and several patients had to be transported to hospitals, some by air. At the municipal building and its surroundings, criminal investigators are now thoroughly securing evidence and questioning witnesses to reconstruct the course of the attack as accurately as possible.

Reactions of authorities and residents

Interior Minister Lubomír Metnar rushed to the scene; he called it an extraordinarily serious incident and assured that there is no further danger to the residents of Chřibská. Police and local government representatives are also expressing their condolences to the bereaved on social media.

The village is in shock and mourning; people are gathering spontaneously at the municipal building, bringing candles and flowers. The police have also set up a crisis hotline that witnesses and people affected by the tragedy can contact to receive psychological support.

Shooter's motive unclear

The perpetrator's motive is not yet known; investigators are working with several theories, which they do not want to specify at this stage of the investigation. They are checking his personal circumstances, any possible relationship to some of the victims and any earlier disputes with authorities.

According to available information, the man barricaded himself in the building for a time after the attack, after which police neutralized him during the intervention. According to another version, he shot himself. Investigators are now determining how he obtained the weapon and whether he had long-term preparation for the attack.