The assailant, a student at the university, was allegedly inspired by several recent shootings, including that in Bryansk, Russia, which took place on December 7.
A gunman opened fire this Thursday afternoon at the Faculty of Philosophy and Charles University, in the center of Prague. The attack left at least 15 dead and 24 injured, including 9 seriously. All were taken care of by emergency services.
Law enforcement announced that the shooter was “eliminated” around 4 p.m. According to Czech police chief Martin Vondrášek, the main suspect was a university student aged around 20, who possessed “legally” several weapons, and was unknown to the police.
The assailant is said to have planned his attack well in advance, and was inspired by several recent shootings, including that in Bryansk, Russia, which took place on December 7, during which a 14-year-old girl killed two students, detailed the Czech police chief during his press conference.
The suspect could “to be associated with another murder, in Hostouň (in the west of the Czech Republic, near the town of Kladno editor’s note) where his father was found dead.” The police were notified at midday. The shooter “left for Prague saying he wanted to kill himself”added Mr. Vondrášek.
The members of the government are summoned Thursday at 9 p.m. to a “extraordinary meeting”which will be followed by a press conference. The Czech National Center against Terrorism, Extremism and Cybercrime will now investigate the massacre.
Czech Interior Minister Vít Rakušan calls for “Remain patient and do not complicate the work of the police by sharing unverified information.”
According to police, testimonies and images shared on social networks, the shooter entered several classrooms and climbed onto the roof of the faculty. Several students, professors and employees managed to barricade themselves, others hid under windows outside the building.
Jan Palach Square, which is right in front of the university, was closed, as were several main roads in the city center. The Czech Interior Ministry advises people living nearby to stay at home.
The intervention of the police in the premises of the faculty is still ongoing. According to some accounts, the shooter, who was also a pyrotechnician, planted a bomb in the building.
Reactions in the Czech Republic and Europe
Several leaders and political figures commented on the event on social networks.
Czech President Pzetr Pavel, who ends a two-day visit to Paris on Thursday, declared on X: “I am shocked by the events that occurred at the Faculty of Philosophy of Charles University. I would like to express my deep regrets and my sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims of the shooting. I would like to thank the citizens for having respected the instructions of the security forces and for having provided maximum cooperation.”
Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced that he was canceling his commitments for the day to return to Prague.
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser says “shocked” by today’s shooting in Prague. She wrote on the social network “think of your Czech neighbors and friends at this difficult time.” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on X that “the attack in the center of Prague touched the heart of Europe. She then expressed her condolences to the Czech Republic.”
“Great emotion upon learning that Charles University in Prague was the target of a deadly shooting”reacted Emmanuel Macron, expressing his “solidarity with the victims, the injured and their loved ones, as well as with the Czech people and authorities”.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, expressed her “condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the Czech people as a whole.”
