Teenager kills two women in knife attack at Czech shop

A 16-year-old boy killed two women in a knife attack at a discount shop in the Czech Republic on Thursday, police said, adding the motive remained unclear.

Police arrested the teenager, a Czech national, ten minutes after the attack at an Action branch on the outskirts of Hradec Kralove, around 100 kilometres (60 miles) east of Prague.

"Both of those attacked suffered injuries which were so serious that they could not be saved despite all efforts of the rescuers," police said on X.

Police spokeswoman Iva Kormosova said the teenager, a Hradec Kralove resident, attacked a shop assistant in the shop and another worker in a service area of the store.

The women were 19 and 38 years old.

The attacker's motive was unclear but that there was nothing to indicate a terror attack, police said.

"The information we have for now seems to suggest he chose the victims randomly," they added.

Police said later on Thursday they had charged the attacker with double murder.

He is facing up to ten years in prison if convicted, given his age.

Rescuers received the first call about 0730 GMT, half an hour after the shop had opened.

"When we arrived, we found two people stabbed," Anatolij Truhlar, head doctor of the local air rescue service, told the private CNN Prima News TV channel.

"Unfortunately, despite 40 minutes of resuscitation efforts, both persons died," he added.