Authorities reported Friday {that a} scholar opening hearth at a college in Prague resulted within the demise of at the very least 14 individuals, together with international nationals and left greater than 20 others wounded, marking one of many Czech Republic’s deadliest mass shootings.
The bloodshed passed off on Thursday within the philosophy division constructing of Charles University, the place the shooter was a scholar, Prague Police Chief Martin Vondrasek mentioned. The gunman additionally died; authorities mentioned his identify has not been launched.
Vondrasek mentioned within the night that 14 individuals had died and 25 had been wounded, after earlier reporting that 15 had died and 24 had been harm. He didn’t clarify the change. Authorities warned that the demise toll might rise.
Police gave no particulars concerning the victims or a doable motive for the capturing on the constructing positioned close to the Vltava River in Jan Palach Square. Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan mentioned investigators don’t suspect a hyperlink to any extremist ideology or teams.
Vondrasek mentioned police imagine the gunman killed his father earlier Thursday in his hometown of Houston, simply west of Prague, and that he had additionally been planning to kill himself. He didn’t elaborate.
Later Thursday, Vondrasek mentioned that primarily based on a search of his residence, the gunman was additionally suspected within the killing of one other man and his 2-month-old daughter on Dec. 15 in Prague.
The chief described the shooter as a superb scholar with no legal file, however didn’t present another info.
The gunman suffered “devastating injuries,” but it wasn’t clear if he killed himself or was shot to death in an exchange of gunfire with officers, Vondrasek said, adding that there was “nothing to recommend that he had an confederate.”
The shooter legally owned a number of weapons. Police mentioned he was closely armed Thursday and was carrying loads of ammunition. Vondrasek mentioned what he did was “effectively thought out, a horrible act.”
University authorities mentioned they might tighten safety in college buildings with quick impact.
“We mourn the lack of lifetime of members of our college group, categorical our deepest condolences to all of the bereaved, and our ideas are with all these affected by the tragedy,” Charles University mentioned in an announcement.
The constructing the place the capturing passed off is in Jan Palach Square, a busy vacationer space in Prague’s Old Town. It is only a few minutes’ stroll from the picturesque Old Town Square, a serious vacationer attraction the place a well-liked Christmas market attracts 1000’s of holiday makers.
The authorities shortly sought to quell issues that the bloodbath was backed by international pursuits.
“There’s no indication that it has something to do with worldwide terrorism,” Rakusan mentioned.
“It’s a horrible crime, one thing the Czech Republic has by no means skilled,” he mentioned.
Pavel Nedoma, the director of the close by Rudolfinum Gallery, mentioned he watched from a window as an individual standing on a balcony of the constructing fired a gun.
Authorities evacuated everybody from the constructing and police mentioned they had been nonetheless looking the world, together with the balcony, for explosives.
The constructing types a part of the sq. and faces a bridge throughout the river with a view of Prague Castle, the seat of the Czech presidency. President Petr Pavel mentioned he was “shocked” by what occurred and supplied his condolences to the kin of the victims, as did leaders of Germany, France and Slovakia, the European Union and Israel.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre despatched a message of condolence.
“The president and the first lady are praying for the families who lost loved ones and everyone else who has been affected by this senseless act of violence,” Jean-Pierre said. “On behalf of the United States, we ship our condolences and in addition want the survivors of this tragic occasion a speedy restoration.”
The Czech authorities declared Saturday a nationwide day of mourning to honor the capturing victims, Prime Minister Petr Fiala mentioned.
Previously, the nation’s worst mass capturing was in 2015, when a gunman opened hearth within the southeastern city of Uhersky Brod, killing eight earlier than fatally capturing himself.
On Thursday, when vacationers, college students and others would usually be having fun with the view of the long-lasting monument, chaos and terror as an alternative took maintain. Police autos and ambulances sped throughout the bridge with their sirens wailing. Officers sealed off the empty sq..
Some video footage confirmed individuals being evacuated from the constructing, and others making an attempt to cover behind a wall.
Source: www.dailysabah.com