ISTANBUL

Two women were fatally stabbed in a knife attack at a store in Hradec Kralove in the Czech Republic on Thursday morning, authorities said.

Czech police have detained a 16-year-old Czech national in connection with the attack, which occurred in a shopping area on Akademika Bedrny Street, Czech News Agency reported.

Officials are investigating his motive.

"We caught up with the suspect about 10 minutes later, less than a kilometer from the crime scene. He was detained by the response unit," a police spokesperson told reporters at the scene.

The attack took place around 8:30 am local time.

According to police, the assailant stabbed one victim inside the store and another at the back of the premises. Emergency services responded swiftly, but both victims succumbed to their injuries despite efforts to revive them.

"Unfortunately, due to the extent of the injuries, the two seriously injured people could not be saved despite all our efforts," said Lucie Hanusova, a spokeswoman for the regional medical rescue service.

Authorities initially reported two injuries, including one serious case, before confirming that both victims had died. Their identities have not been released.

The National Center for Combating Terrorism, Extremism, and Cybercrime has joined the investigation. Police have not confirmed media reports suggesting the attack was random or that the victims included a store employee and a customer.

"There is no further danger," the police said.