A gunman has killed at least 15 people and wounded dozens at a university in central Prague before killing himself.
The gunman on Thursday opened fire at Charles University. Twenty-four people were also wounded.
The gunman, a 24-year-old student in world history, also died. He first killed his father in their family home in the town of Kladno, outside of Prague, said Radek Jiroudek, a police officer with Interpol Prague.
The police identified the assailant as David K. Speaking at a news conference in Prague. The assailant “got inspired by a similar terrible event abroad, police said.
The shooter had a gun license. He was a native of a small village near the town of Kladno west of Prague.
The governor of the Prague region, Bohuslav Svoboda, said the shooter fell from the roof of the university’s faculty of arts building after opening fire on Jan Palach Square, an area of manicured lawns adjacent to the Vltava River that cuts through the Czech capital.
Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan said no other assailant was at the scene, but he urged people to cooperate with police.
Rakusan also said the shooting is not linked to terrorism. “There is no indication that this crime has any link to international terrorism.”
Prime Minister Petr Fiala canceled his scheduled events and was heading for Prague.
In a post on X, Czech President Petr Pavel, said he was “shocked” by the shooting and extended his condolences to the families and relatives of the victims.
Jsem šokován událostmi na Filozofické fakultě Univerzity Karlovy. Chtěl bych vyjádřit hlubokou lítost a upřímnou soustrast rodinám a příbuzným obětí, které si střelba vyžádala. Chci poděkovat občanům, že respektují pokyny bezpečnostních složek a poskytují maximální součinnost.
— Petr Pavel (@prezidentpavel) December 21, 2023
Interior Minister Vit Rakusan wrote on social media that Thursday’s shooting was “unprecedented” in the history of the Czech Republic.
“I want to express my sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of all the victims of the shooting.”
