A policeman cordon off a location near the university in main Prague, on December 21,2023 Czech authorities stated Thursday a shooting in a university structure in main Prague has actually left “dead and wounded people”, without supplying more information.
Michal Cizek|Afp|Getty Images
An only shooter opened fire Thursday in a university structure in downtown Prague, killing a minimum of 14 individuals and hurting more than 20 in the Czech Republic’s worst mass shooting, authorities and the city’s rescue service stated.
The bloodshed occurred in the viewpoint department structure of Charles University, where the shooter was a trainee, Prague Police Chief Martin Vondrasek stated. The shooter likewise passed away, authorities stated. His name has actually not been launched.
Vondrasek stated at night that 14 individuals had actually passed away and 25 were hurt, after earlier reporting that 15 had actually passed away and 24 were harmed. He didn’t describe the modification. Authorities cautioned that the death toll might increase.
Police offered no information about the victims or a possible intention for the shooting at the structure situated near the Vltava River in Jan PalachSquare Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan stated private investigators do not believe a link to any extremist ideology or groups.
Vondrasek stated authorities think the shooter eliminated his daddy earlier Thursday in his home town of Hostoun, simply west of Prague, which he had actually likewise been preparing to eliminate himself. He didn’t elaborate.
Later Thursday, Vondrasek stated that based upon a search of his home, the shooter was likewise thought in the killing of another male and his 2-month-old childDec 15, in the east of Prague.
Armed authorities are seen on the veranda of the university in main Prague, on December 21,2023 Czech authorities stated Thursday a shooting in a university structure in main Prague has actually left “dead and wounded people”, without supplying more information.
Michal Cizek|Afp|Getty Images
The chief explained the shooter as an outstanding trainee without any rap sheet, however didn’t supply any other info.
The shooter suffered “devastating injuries” however it wasn’t clear if he eliminated himself or was shot to death in an exchange of shooting with officers, Vondrasek stated, including that there was “nothing to suggest that he had an accomplice.”
The shooter lawfully owned numerous weapons– authorities stated he was greatly armed Thursday and was bring a great deal of ammo– which what he did was “well thought out, a horrible act,” Vondrasek stated.
University authorities stated they would tighten up security in university structures with instant result.
“We mourn the loss of life of members of our university community, express our deepest condolences to all the bereaved and our thoughts are with all those affected by the tragedy,” Charles University stated in a declaration.
The structure where the shooting occurred is near the Vltava River in Jan Palach Square, a hectic traveler location in Prague’s OldTown It is simply a couple of minutes’ walk from the picturesque Old Town Square, a significant traveler destination where a popular Christmas market brings in countless visitors.
An ambulance drives towards the structure of Philosophical Faculty of Charles University in downtown Prague, Czech Republic, Thursday,Dec 21,2023 Czech authorities state a shooting in downtown Prague has actually eliminated an undefined variety of individuals and injured others.
Petr David Josek|AP
The federal government rapidly looked for to stop issues that the massacre was back by foreign interests.
“There’s no indication that it has anything to do with international terrorism,” Rakusan stated.
“It’s a horrible crime, something the Czech Republic has never experienced,” he stated.
Pavel Nedoma, the director of the neighboring Rudolfinum Gallery, stated he enjoyed from a window as an individual standing on a terrace of the structure fired a weapon.
Authorities left everybody from the structure and authorities stated they were still browsing the location, consisting of the veranda, for dynamites.
The structure kinds part of the square and deals with a bridge throughout the river with a view of Prague Castle, the seat of the Czech presidency. President Petr Pavel stated he was “shocked” by what took place and provided his acknowledgements to the family members of the victims, as did leaders of Germany, France and Slovakia, the European Union and Israel.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre sent out a message of acknowledgement.
“The president and the first lady are praying for the families who lost loved ones and everyone else who has been affected by this senseless act of violence,” Jean-Pierre stated. “On behalf of the United States, we send our condolences and also wish the survivors of this tragic event a speedy recovery.”
The Czech federal government prepared to fulfill later Thursday for an emergency situation session to talk about the shooting.
Previously, the country’s worst mass shooting remained in 2015, when a shooter opened fire in the southeastern town of Uhersky Brod, eliminating 8 before fatally shooting himself.
On Thursday, where travelers, trainees and others would usually be taking pleasure in the view of the renowned monolith, mayhem and horror rather took hold. Police automobiles and ambulances sped throughout the bridge with their sirens wailing. Officers sealed the empty square.
Some video footage revealed individuals being left from the structure and others attempting to conceal behind a wall.
Ivo Havranek, a diving trainer, stated he was near the structure when he heard a shot ring out, however he didn’t rather think that was what he had actually heard.
“Only at the moment when I saw the fully equipped riot police with bulletproof vests and shields, it looked to me that I had found myself in a movie,” Havranek stated. “But it was obvious that nobody was shooting a movie.”
