Czech Republic - At least 14 dead and dozens injured after shooting at Prague university - first indication of background
More than 14 people have been killed in a gun attack at Prague's Charles University, according to police. "At the moment I can confirm 14 victims and 25 injured in this terrible crime," said police chief Martin Vondrasek on Thursday. There had previously been talk of more than 15 fatalities. Interior Minister Vit Rakusan also announced that there were no indications of a connection to international terrorism. Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan said on public television CT that the suspected shooter was dead.
It was assumed that he was a student at the university who had murdered his father shortly beforehand and was therefore wanted. However, formal identification is still pending. The suspected perpetrator was probably inspired by rampages abroad. It is probably the worst gun attack in the history of the Czech Republic, which has been independent since 1993.
The incident took place at the Faculty of Philosophy of Charles University on Jan Palach Square. Humanities are taught there. The police were on site with a large contingent, including special forces. Jan Palach Square is located just a few hundred meters from the world-famous Charles Bridge, the symbol of the city on the Vltava River.
Vyzýváme občany, aby se v blízkém okolí nezdržovali a nevycházeli z domu. Zásah policie stále pokračuje. pic.twitter.com/OHnSsq4G5f
— Policie ČR (@PolicieCZ) December 21, 2023
Shots fired in Prague: students and staff are said to have barricaded themselves in lecture halls and offices
The police called on people to avoid the area as far as possible. Residents should not leave their homes. Photos showed students leaving the university building with their arms raised. According to a report by the Nova television station, the shooter was last seen on the roof of the faculty building. An explosion was also reportedly heard.
Students and staff at the university announced on social media that they had barricaded themselves in lecture halls and offices. The people should now be brought out of the building one by one. The emergency services sent several ambulances, emergency doctors and a large ambulance to the scene.
Interior Minister: No evidence of second shooter
Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan said on public television CT in the late afternoon that there was no longer any danger to the public. According to his information, the suspected shooter is dead. There were no indications of a second shooter. Rakusan nevertheless called on the population to follow the instructions of the police. The minister had rushed to the scene after the crime.
Czech President Petr Pavel expressed his shock after the gun attack. "I would like to express my deep regret and sincere condolences to the families and relatives of the victims of the shooting," he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
In the evening, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on X: "I am deeply shocked by the terrible news from Prague. Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the victims, our sympathy goes out to our Czech friends. I wish the injured a speedy recovery."
Charles University was founded in 1348, making it one of the oldest universities in Europe. It has a total of around 49,500 students. Of these, around 8,000 study at the Faculty of Arts, which offers subjects such as German, Slavic studies and history.
Editor's note: This article has been continuously updated. The information on the number of victims in particular was subject to change.
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- Following the shooting at Charles University in Prague, Vit Rakusan, the Czech Interior Minister, mentioned during a television broadcast on CT that the suspected shooter had passed away.
- Over the holidays, images of Christmas decorations could be seen adorning the streets of Prague, adding a stark contrast to the tragic events that had unfolded at Charles University, one of the oldest universities in Europe, which has approximately 49,500 students, including 8,000 at the Faculty of Arts.
- A large-scale deployment of police officers, including special forces, was required at the Faculty of Philosophy of Charles University, located on Jan Palach Square, to handle the aftermath of the shooting incident, which is speculated to be the worst gun attack in the history of the Czech Republic.
- The suspected shooter, who was allegedly inspired by rampages abroad and had fatally wounded his father before the attack at the university, was most recently reportedly spotted on the roof of the faculty building, according to a report by the Nova television station.
Source: www.stern.de
