According to officers, a 24 year-old student at Prague’s Charles University has shot and killed at least 15 people and injured 24 others, nine of them seriously, before being killed by police.
The shooting occurred at the Charles University’s Faculty of Arts.
The police chief, Martin Vondrášek, told a press briefing that the toll may rise further, adding that the shooting had been “a premeditated violent attack”, apparently inspired by similar massacres abroad.
The Czech interior minister, Vít Rakušan that there was no indication the crime had “any connection with international terrorism.”
Police said on X that the shooter had been “eliminated” and the entire building was being evacuated.
Police sealed off Jan Palach Square and the area adjacent to the university building, which is situated in a busy part of town crossed by a popular street that leads up to Old Town Square.
Emergency services said “a large number of ambulance units” were deployed at the faculty, adding that the injuries ranged from light to “very serious”. Officials stated that no other gunman was thought to be involved in the shooting.
The Czech President, Petr Pavel, revealed that he was shocked by the events at the university.
“I would like to express my deep regret and sincere condolences to the families and relatives of the victims that the shooting claimed,” he said.
The Czech Prime Minister, Petr Fiala, said that he had cancelled a trip to the east of the country because of “the tragic events at the faculty of philosophy” and was returning to Prague, while the city’s mayor, Bohuslav Svoboda, said that he was “completely shocked.”
“We always thought that this was a thing that did not concern us. Now it turns out that, unfortunately, our world is also changing and the problem of the individual shooter is emerging here as well,” Prague Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda told Czech Television.
Fiala later delivered a short address in a social media post.
“Dear fellow citizens, I turn to you at this very difficult time. We have all been deeply affected today by the news of the tragic attack on the Faculty of Arts in the centre of Prague.
“There is no justification for this horrific act. Like many of you, I feel deep sadness and disgust in the face of this sickening violence. Once again, I express my sincere condolences to the loved ones of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to all those injured.”
Petr Fiala
European Leaders Express Condolences
Reacting to the news, European leaders sent their condolences.
“Shocked by the senseless violence of the shooting that claimed several lives today in Prague,” the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, said on X.
She added, “We stand and mourn with you.”
Alexander De Croo, Prime Minister of Belgium said that the news from Prague is absolutely heartbreaking.
“We are thinking about all those who lost loved ones and hoping for a quick recovery for those injured,” he noted on X, adding that Belgium conveys its sincere condolences to the people of the Czech Republic and Petr Fiala.
The Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, said that his thoughts were “with the victims and their loved ones”, while Hungary’s Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, said that he was “deeply shocked by the heinous shooting at Charles University.”
Moreover, Evika Silina, Latvia’s Prime Minister said ,”On behalf of the people and Government of Latvia, I express my sincere condolences to Petr Fiala and the people of Czechia.”
“I stand with Czechia and wish a speedy recovery to all injured,” she added.
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