“I can currently confirm 14 victims and 25 injured people of this terrible crime,” said Police Chief Martin Vondrasek on Thursday. There had previously been talk of more than 15 deaths. All victims were killed inside the building, Vondrasek said.
According to media reports, some of the victims were fellow students of the perpetrator. The Dutch Foreign Ministry said one of the injured was a Dutch citizen.
The police chief added that the armed attacker had a “huge arsenal of weapons and ammunition.” The quick intervention of the police prevented a much larger bloodbath.
A large number of “ambulance units” were sent to the crime scene, the Prague emergency service explained on the online service X, formerly Twitter.
The Czech government declared a national day of mourning for December 23rd. On Friday, flags on official buildings should be flown at half-mast and the population should be asked to observe a minute’s silence at midday.
The gun attack was carried out at the Faculty of Arts at Charles University in Prague. It is located in the historic city center, close to well-known tourist attractions such as the Charles Bridge, built in the 14th century.
According to Police Chief Vondrasek, officers began searching for the 24-year-old before the gun attack after the man’s father was found dead in the town of Hostoun, west of Prague. The shooter made his way to the Czech capital and said he wanted to kill himself, Vondrasek continued. Officials had previously suspected that the shooter had killed his father.
The police searched the main building of the Faculty of Arts, where the shooter was expected to attend a lecture. However, he went to another faculty building nearby and was not found in time. The first information about shots was received around 3 p.m., and the rapid reaction force was on site within twelve minutes, said Vondrasek.
Shortly afterwards there was information about the shooter’s motionless body. According to unconfirmed information, he killed himself. Police chief Vondrasek said, referring to an investigation into online networks, that the perpetrator was inspired by a “similar case” in Russia this fall. The official did not provide any further information. There are currently no indications of any further impending danger.
According to Vondrasek, no officers were injured during the operation. Police evacuated the building and used a concert hall across the street as a temporary shelter for the evacuees.
According to Vondrasek, officials believe that the gunman also killed a young man and his two-month-old daughter while they were walking in a forest in the east of Prague on December 15.
The worst gun attack in the Czech Republic since the break-up of Czechoslovakia caused consternation around the world. Czech President Petr Pavel said he was “shocked” by the attack. He expressed his “deep regret and sincere condolences” to the families of the victims at X.
EU Commission President Ursula told X that she was “shocked by the senseless violence that claimed several lives in Prague today.” She also expressed her condolences.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz wrote to X that the “terrible news from Prague” had “deeply upset” him. According to the Federal President’s Office, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed his condolences to Czech President Pavel. “My thoughts are with the victims and their families,” Steinmeier wrote.
“The attack in the middle of Prague hits Europe in the heart. We are in mourning,” said Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) on (SPD). She expressed her sympathy and offered support to her colleague Rakusan.
The White House condemned the “senseless” violence. French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne expressed their “shock” and “solidarity”. Borne said he had spoken to Pavel about the attack – the Czech president was wrapping up a visit to France on Thursday.
