A police officer cordon off an place near the college in central Prague, on December 21, 2023. Czech law enforcement mentioned Thursday a taking pictures in a college developing in central Prague has remaining “dead and wounded individuals”, without the need of delivering additional aspects.
Michal Cizek | Afp | Getty Photos
A lone gunman opened hearth Thursday in a college developing in downtown Prague, killing at least 15 folks and injuring additional than 20 in the Czech Republic’s worst mass shooting, police and the city’s rescue services claimed.
The bloodshed took position in the philosophy department making of Charles University, where the shooter was a student, Prague Law enforcement Chief Martin Vondrasek stated. The suspected gunman also died, authorities mentioned. His identify has not been produced.
Vondrasek said 24 were being wounded, and authorities warned that the dying toll could increase.
Police gave no details about the victims or a doable motive for the taking pictures at the constructing situated close to the Vltava River in Jan Palach Square. Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan claimed investigators do not suspect a link to any extremist ideology or groups.
Armed police are seen on the balcony of the college in central Prague, on December 21, 2023. Czech police stated Thursday a taking pictures in a university setting up in central Prague has remaining “lifeless and wounded people”, with out offering further more information.
Michal Cizek | Afp | Getty Images
Vondrasek reported law enforcement imagine the suspect killed his father in his hometown of Hostoun, just west of Prague, previously in the day, and that he experienced also been arranging to eliminate himself. He failed to elaborate.
The chief explained the suspect as an fantastic college student but failed to provide any other information.
The suspect endured “devastating injuries” but it was not very clear if he killed himself or was shot to demise in an trade of gunfire with officers, Vondrasek said, adding that there was “absolutely nothing to recommend that he had an accomplice.”
The suspect lawfully owned a number of guns, and what he did was “perfectly thought out, a horrible act,” Vondrasek mentioned.
The constructing where the capturing took location is positioned around the Vltava River in Jan Palach Sq., a busy vacationer region in Prague’s Old City. It is just a number of minutes’ wander from the picturesque Previous Town Square, a major tourist attraction where thousands of readers have been experiencing a preferred Xmas market.
An ambulance drives to the setting up of Philosophical School of Charles University in downtown Prague, Czech Republic, Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. Czech police say a shooting in downtown Prague has killed an unspecified quantity of folks and wounded other people.
Petr David Josek | AP
The governing administration speedily sought to quell considerations that the massacre was again by overseas interests.
“You will find no indication that it has something to do with worldwide terrorism,” Rakusan explained.
“It’s a horrible criminal offense, some thing the Czech Republic has never professional,” he mentioned.
Pavel Nedoma, the director of the close by Rudolfinum Gallery, claimed he watched from a window as a individual standing on a balcony of the developing fired a gun.
Authorities evacuated anyone from the creating and police claimed they had been however hunting the region, together with the balcony, for explosives.
The making forms aspect of the square and faces a bridge across the river with a perspective of Prague Castle, the seat of the Czech presidency. President Petr Pavel stated he was “shocked” by what transpired and provided his condolences to the family members of the victims.
The place travellers, pupils and many others would normally be enjoying the watch of the iconic monument, chaos and terror as an alternative took hold. Law enforcement automobiles and ambulances sped across the bridge with their sirens wailing. Officers sealed off the empty sq..
Some video footage showed persons remaining evacuated from the setting up and some others striving to hide by a wall.
The Czech govt planned to satisfy later on Thursday for an unexpected emergency session to go over the taking pictures.