Two women were killed in a knife attack in a shopping centre Czech Republic, on Thursday morning. The attack took place in the city of Hradec Kralove.
Police detained a 16-year-old suspect, a Czech national, around 10 minutes after the attack, about 1 kilometre from the scene.
Police confirmed that both victims of a stabbing attack suffered fatal injuries, despite the efforts of rescuers. The attack took place at a store, where the teenager assaulted a shop assistant and another worker. The motive remains unclear, though authorities ruled out a terror attack, suggesting the victims were chosen randomly.
Emergency services were called around 07:30 GMT, shortly after the store opened. Anatolij Truhlar, head doctor of the local air rescue service, reported that both victims were found with stab wounds and, despite 40 minutes of resuscitation, were pronounced dead.
Police secured the scene outside the Action discount store, where a candle flickered in memory of the victims, and part of the car park was cordoned off. Passer-by Adela Ptackova expressed concerns about safety, given the ongoing violence. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala condemned the attack as “incomprehensible” and expressed condolences to the victims’ families.
The Czech Republic, an EU and NATO member, rarely experiences terror attacks, though there was a shooting rampage in 2023.