Six people were killed and three more wounded when a gunman opened fire in a hospital in Ostrava, eastern Czech Republic on Tuesday. The suspect later shot himself dead as police approached his car.  

Prime Minister Andrej Babis told Czech public television the shooting took place around 07:00 local time in a waiting room at the University hospital in the eastern city of Ostrava, 350 kilometers east of the capital, Prague. The attacker opened fire at people's heads from close range, Babis said. 

The country's interior minister, Jan Hamacek, said police found the suspect's car and he shot himself in the head as they approached, subsequently dying from his injuries about half an hour later. Hamacek said police are now investigating his motive. 

"I'd like to assure the public that there's no danger anymore," Hamacek said. 

Police identified the suspect as a 42-year-old man. Regional police chief officer Tomas Kuzel said the suspect, who they believe acted alone, had used an illegally held Czech-made 9 millimeter gun.

Following the shooting, several hundred police officers launched an extensive manhunt, using two helicopters, for the suspect who was said to be driving a silver-gray Renault Laguna car. 

Police published a photo of the suspect, having withdrawn an earlier photo of a different man, who they said is now considered a witness. 

As reported by the Associated Press, the hospital's director, Jiri Havrlant, said the dead were four men and two women. Another man and a woman had to be operated on, while one person was lightly wounded.