A Gunman Opened Fire On A Czech University, Killing 14 People In The Country’s Worst Mass Shooting
Police said the gunman was a student at the university, who later killed himself after he was surrounded by police.
A gunman opened fire at a university in the center of Prague in the Czech Republic on Thursday Dec. 21, killing 14 people and injuring 25 in the deadliest mass shooting in the country’s history.
Police said the gunman, a 24-year-old identified by police as David K., was a student at the university, who later killed himself after he was surrounded by police.
He is believed to have killed his father in his hometown of Hostouň, west of Prague, earlier in the day and is also suspected to have shot and killed another 32-year-old man and his two-month old daughter in a forest six days earlier on Dec. 15.
At around 12:20pm on Thursday, police were alerted that the gunman was on his way to Prague.
Shortly after, police discovered the gunman’s father dead in his home and gained information that the gunman was supposed to attend a lecture at Charles University in central Prague at 2pm.
Police evacuated the building but did not find the gunman.
At about 3pm, the gunman opened fire in the corridors and classrooms of another building that was a 12 minute walk away from the evacuated building.
Videos shared on social media showed people hiding on the outside ledges of the building while others jumped down to a rooftop terrace below.
The gunman, who police said was heavily armed, then started shooting at people from the rooftop, causing panic and sending crowds fleeing across Charles Bridge.
The shooter then killed himself on the roof as police closed in, authorities said.
Officials said 13 people were killed at the scene and another one died after being taken to hospital, according to CNN.
Those killed included students, a lecturer and the head of a university department.
Police said the gunman had been a high-achieving student, did not have a criminal record and had a license to own eight guns, including two long guns, according to AP.
Authorities say they believe the man acted alone.
University authorities have tightened security in university buildings with immediate effect.
Czech prime minister Petr Fiala cut short a domestic trip and said in a statement that the country was shocked by the “horrendous act”.
“It is hard to find the words to express condemnation on the one hand and, on the other, the pain and sorrow that our entire society is feeling in these days before Christmas,” Fiala said.
He declared Saturday Dec. 23 a national day of mourning for the victims, with flags flying half-mast and a minute of silence held at noon.
