More than 15 dead and numerous injured in shootings at the university in Prague

It is assumed that it is a student at the university who had recently killed his father and was therefore wanted. However, formal identification is still pending.

Vondrasek suspected that the alleged perpetrator was probably inspired by mass shootings abroad. It is believed to be the worst gun attack in the history of the Czech Republic, which has been independent since 1993.

According to initial information, 24 people were injured, at least nine of them seriously to life-threatening. In the evening it was assumed that more than 15 people would die. Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan said on public television CT that there was no evidence of a second shooter or of a terrorist background. Rakusan nevertheless called on the population to follow police instructions.

In response to a request from the APA, the Foreign Ministry in Vienna emphasized that, after consultation with the Austrian embassy in Prague, there is currently no indication that Austrian citizens were affected by the shooting attack in Prague. We remain in close contact with the Austrian diplomatic mission in the Czech Republic.

The shooting occurred at the Philosophical Faculty of Charles University on Jan Palach Square. Humanities are taught there. The police were on the scene with a large contingent, including special forces. Jan Palach Square is located just a few hundred meters from the famous Charles Bridge, the city’s landmark on the Vltava. In a video by a user on X, people could be seen fleeing over the Charles Bridge, which is very popular with tourists. The accompanying text stated that they moved away from the shots that could be heard nearby.

The police called on people to avoid the area and cordoned off the area. Residents should not go out of the house. Photos showed students leaving the university building with their arms raised. The university sent an email to employees to take cover and lock the doors. According to a report by the television station Nova, the shooter is said to have been on the roof of the faculty building. An explosion was also heard.

Students and university employees barricaded themselves

Students and staff at the university said on social media that they had barricaded themselves in lecture halls and offices. Others climbed out the window and stood on the eaves to hide from the gunman. The students and university staff were taken out of the building by early evening. The rescue service sent several ambulances, emergency doctors and a large ambulance to the scene.

Also read: Football: SKN women’s CL game in Prague canceled after rampage

Czech President Petr Pavel expressed his condolences to the families of those killed. He thanked the citizens on the short message service X on Thursday for following the security forces’ instructions. As the head of state’s office announced, Pavel cut short his current visit to France to return to the Czech Republic early.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala canceled a working visit to Moravia. “Due to the tragic events, I have canceled my work program in Olomouc and will return to Prague,” said the liberal-conservative politician. “I am in contact with the Interior Minister and the Czech police and ask all citizens to heed the recommendations of the emergency services.” The government was scheduled to meet for an emergency meeting late in the evening.

In a video by a user on X, people could be seen fleeing over the Charles Bridge, which is very popular with tourists. The accompanying text stated that they moved away from the shots that could be heard nearby.

The mayor of Prague, Bohuslav Svoboda, was shocked. “This is a tragedy,” he told public television CT. “The worst part is that these things cannot be prevented.” Many people think that something like this could only happen in the USA because many people there are armed. It turns out that this is not the case. At the time of the shooting he was at his residence not far from the university. “The police locked us in and we were not allowed to leave the area,” said Svoboda.

Austria’s Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen also showed his solidarity: “I am deeply shocked by the cruel attack in Prague today, which claimed so many victims. In these painful hours, our thoughts are with the people in the Czech Republic, with their families and friends of the victims,” ​​Van der Bellen wrote on X. Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) wrote on ” And addressing his Czech counterpart Petr Fiala: “We are firmly on your side!” Numerous government members from the ÖVP and the Greens were also affected.

Similarly, French President Emmanuel Macron, also on X: The news of the fatal shots shocked him deeply. “I express my solidarity with the victims, the injured and their relatives, as well as with the Czech people and the Czech authorities.”

Charles University was founded in 1348, making it one of the oldest European universities. It has a total of around 49,500 students. Of these, around 8,000 study subjects such as German, Slavic and historical studies at the Faculty of Humanities.

Video footage shows the massive police presence on site:

Localization: Jan-Palach-Platz is located just a few hundred meters from the famous Charles Bridge.

info By clicking on the icon you can add the keyword to your topics.

info
By clicking on the icon you open your “my topics” page. They have of 15 keywords saved and would have to remove keywords.

info By clicking on the icon you can remove the keyword from your topics.

Add the topic to your topics.