Dec 22, 2023 at 12:04 AM Update: an hour ago
A shooting took place at a university in the center of Prague on Thursday afternoon. Fourteen people were killed, including the shooter. Later his father was also found dead. This is what we now know about the incident.
At Charles University in the historic center of Prague, 24-year-old David K. opened fire on the philosophy faculty. The history student shot thirteen people dead. At least 25 others were injured, ten of them seriously. The injured include a Dutch man, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports.
During the shooting, many people fled in panic. Many hid. Images on social media show people hiding on the roof of the university.
The police received a report of the shooting at 2:30 p.m., but were already looking for K. after his father’s lifeless body was found. The police suspect that K. killed his 55-year-old father in Hostouň, 20 kilometers from Prague. At that time, the police already had serious indications that K. wanted to kill himself.
Because K. was scheduled to attend a lecture in another university building, the police decided to evacuate that building. When that building was cleared, the first reports of the shooting came in. Twelve minutes after that report, the police arrived at the crime scene.
Students and faculty employees received an email after 3 p.m. stating that a shooter was in the building. The email also stated that they had to hide in rooms and barricade the doors with furniture, the Czech newspaper wrote. Lightning. It is not clear whether the message came from K. himself.
Multiple shots were heard on the fourth floor of the building. According to the director of a nearby concert hall, the gunman also shot at surrounding streets with an automatic weapon.
K.’s body was found by the police while combing the building. It is not clear whether the shooter killed himself or whether the man was killed by a police shot.
The police have found dozens of weapons in the university building, Interior Minister Vit Rakusan reported on Thursday evening. K. had a permit for several weapons. According to Rakusan, dozens of additional victims were prevented by quick police intervention.
According to the minister, the shooter acted alone. He therefore assured residents that the danger in the Czech capital had passed. Shortly after the shooting, there was concern that more people might be involved in the attack.
The police believe that K. is also responsible for the deaths of two people in a forest near Prague. He is linked to the shooting deaths of a man and his two-month-old daughter. The police suspect that he chose his victims at random.
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The police are still in the dark as to what drove K. to the shooting. He had no criminal history before his murders. The police do not assume a terrorist motive.
People living near his father thought he was an introverted, smart and friendly boy from a normal family, they told the newspaper. K. was also successful as a student during his studies. He had won a prize for his bachelor’s thesis earlier this year.
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Bystanders film shooter and hiding people in Prague
Czech President Petr Pavel said via X that he was shocked by the shooting. He expresses his condolences to the victims and relatives. The government has announced December 23 as a day of mourning to commemorate the victims.
Outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte has been in contact with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala and also expressed his condolences to the victims. Fiala has canceled his planned activities for today and is coming to Prague because of the attack.
The leaders of Germany, France, Ukraine and the United States have expressed support. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also says she is shocked. “I express my deepest condolences to the families of the victims and to the entire Czech people. We stand with you and mourn with you,” Von der Leyen wrote on X.
2023-12-21 23:04:00
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