Gunman kills at least 6 at hospital then shoots himself

PRAGUE — A man with an illegal gun fatally shot six people and wounded three others at a hospital in the eastern Czech Republic on Tuesday, the prime minister and officials said. The gunman later killed himself as police approached his car.

Prime Minister Andrej Babis told Czech public television the shooting took place around 7 a.m. in a hospital waiting room. The attacker opened fire at people’s heads from close range, Babis said.

The prime minister canceled an official visit to Estonia and headed to the scene of the shooting at the University hospital in the eastern city of Ostrava, 220 miles east of Prague.

Police identified the attacker as a 42-year-old man.

Regional police chief officer Tomas Kuzel said the suspect used an illegally held Czech-made 9 mm gun.