2023-12-22 00:07:27
Time.news – In a “premeditated” attack, announced on social media and “inspired by other similar shootings” that have already occurred abroad, the 24-year-old Czech student David Kozak opened fire in the Faculty of Letters and Philosophy of the Charles University, in Prague , carrying out the worst mass shooting in 30 years in the Czech Republic. The toll is 14 dead and 25 injured on an afternoon that shocked the country, in the midst of the Christmas atmosphere.
The Interior Minister and police of the Czech Republic, speaking at a news conference, said officers were investigating whether Kozak may also be responsible for the deaths of two people last week in the Klanovicky forest near the Czech capital . They believe that in the forest the mass murderer, who had no criminal record, chose his victims at random.
Fear in the city
Scenes of panic began in the first minutes following the alarm from the police who cordoned off the central Jan Palach square and invited everyone not to leave their homes. The attacker was “found dead” in a classroom at the university, a circumstance that led to speculation that he had committed suicide. Local police had previously announced that the attacker had been “eliminated”. Another circumstance to be clarified is the discovery of the killer’s father’s body this morning, about twenty kilometers from Prague.
We urge citizens not to stay in the immediate vicinity and not to leave the house. The police intervention is still ongoing. pic.twitter.com/OHnSsq4G5f
— Police of the Czech Republic (@PolicieCZ) December 21, 2023
“There is no indication that this crime is linked to international terrorism,” Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan told reporters. “More than 15 people lost their lives and at least 24 were injured”, according to the latest report provided by the head of the Czech police Martin Vondrasek who spoke of a “violent and premeditated attack”.
The Czech Prime Minister, Petr Fiala, who is urgently returning to Prague, said he was “shocked” by what happened. The man, from what we learn, had a gun license and owned several weapons.
The investigators have not yet released hypotheses or a definitive version of the motive that drove Kozak. “We have unconfirmed information that the 24-year-old student was inspired by a similar event that happened in the fall in Russia,” Vondrasek reported.
“I have always wanted to kill – we read in his ‘diary’ – it is more profitable to carry out a mass massacre rather than serial murders”
On a Telegram channel opened recently and with few subscribers, Kozak wrote that “helping” him was Alina Afanaskina, the 14-year-old who fired her father’s rifle in a school in Bryansk last December 7, killing two classmates before take one’s own life.
BREAKING: Footage show students hiding on a ledge during mass shooting in University in Praguepic.twitter.com/75W0UEL190
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) December 21, 2023
From initial reconstructions, it seems that the student killer – who apparently acted alone – started shooting from the fourth floor. Eyewitnesses said that the young man had “some weapon in his hand” and was shooting towards the Manes bridge.
Up to 200 children were quickly rescued along the road to a contemporary art gallery but many remained barricaded inside. In a photo that has been making the rounds on the web, some can be seen crouching along the ledge under a window almost on the roof. According to unverified information, students in chats described scenes of people falling from the third or fourth floor while running away from the killer. A student reportedly died when he slipped from the building’s ledge while trying to escape.
The University’s Faculty of Philosophy is located right in the heart of the historic center of Prague. The Old Town of Prague is a destination for tourists throughout the year and in the period preceding Christmas it fills up with visitors. Currently there are Christmas markets in both the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square.
The University itself is rich in history as is the faculty that was the scene of the massacre. Philosophy student Jan Palach set himself on fire in the center of Prague in 1969, in protest against the Soviet occupation of his country. The square where the University is located bears his name. The students would have concluded the academic semester tomorrow, in view of the Christmas holidays.
Weapons data
According to the head of the Czech police, Martin Vondraek, the man suspected of the murder of 15 people at Charles University in Prague
According to official police statistics, more than 300,000 people are legally allowed to own a gun. As of 2022, nearly 1 million legally owned weapons were officially registered in the Czech Republic. The man suspected of killing 15 people at Charles University in Prague had a gun license and owned several weapons.
The message from the Czech Prime Minister
“I am shocked by the events that occurred at the Faculty of Arts of Charles University. I would like to express my deep regret and condolences to the families and relatives of the victims of the shooting. I would like to thank the citizens for respecting the instructions of the security forces and for providing maximum collaboration.”
I am shocked by the events at the Faculty of Arts of Charles University. I would like to express my deep regret and sincere condolences to the families and relatives of the victims that the shooting claimed. I want to thank the citizens for respecting the instructions of the security forces and providing maximum cooperation.
— Petr Pavel (@prezidentpavel) December 21, 2023
The worst shooting in the last 30 years
This afternoon’s attack on the Faculty of Arts at Charles University in Prague is the most serious shooting since the independence of the Czech Republic 30 years ago.
The most recent gun attack it occurred in December 2019 in a hospital in Ostravawhen a man opened fire in the waiting room of a trauma clinic and killed four men and two women, before turning the gun on himself.
In February 2015, a local man opened fire in a restaurant in the eastern town of Uhersky Brod, killing eight people. Although gun attacks are rare in the Czech Republic, hunting with firearms is very popular. In 2019, the Czech government tried in vain to lift the EU ban on semi-automatic rifles for private use introduced after a series of deadly jihadist attacks across Europe.
International reactions
Many comments of sympathy and condolences sent by major international personalities following the tragic events in Prague.
Giorgia Meloni
“The Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, sent a message to the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Petr Fiala, in which she expresses her deepest condolences to the families of the victims of the shooting that took place in Prague, her closeness to the wounded and to the entire population of the Republic Czech Republic. President Meloni reiterates his strongest condemnation of all forms of violence, fanaticism and terrorism, highlighting that Europe has the duty to react and strengthen every useful tool to guarantee the maximum safety of citizens”. This is the note from Palazzo Chigi.
Sergio Mattarella
“The whole of Italy learned with profound sadness the news of the shooting that shocked the University of Prague, causing several victims and numerous injuries”. The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, wrote this in a message sent to the President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel.
“On this mournful occasion I would like to convey to you the expressions of the most heartfelt condolences of the Italian Republic and of my personal ones – writes the Head of State – we are close with feelings of shared solidarity to the pain of the families shocked by an act of such brutal violence and we wish a prompt and complete recovery to the injured”.
Volodymyr Zelensky
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his condolences to the families of the victims of the attack in a post on “Shocking news about the tragic events in Prague. I wish the injured a speedy recovery,” he wrote.
Shocking reports of tragic events in Prague. Innocent people were killed and injured. My sincere condolences to the families of the victims. I wish those injured a speedy recovery.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Volodymyr Zelensky (@ZelenskyyUa) December 21, 2023
Ursula von der Leyen
“My thoughts go to the victims and the injured. All our solidarity and closeness goes to our Czech neighbors and friends in this difficult time”
Shocked by the senseless violence of the shooting that claimed several lives today in Prague.
I express my deepest condolences to the families of the victims and to the Czech people as a whole.
We stand and mourn with you.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) December 21, 2023
Viktor Orban
“I am deeply shocked by the atrocious shooting that occurred at Charles University in Prague. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the victims.”
I was deeply shocked by the heinous shooting that took place at Charles University in #Prague today. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims!
— Viktor Orbán (@PM_ViktorOrban) December 21, 2023
Nancy Faeser
Among the messages also that of the German Interior Minister. “We have received the shocking news of several people killed at the University of Prague. My thoughts go to the victims and the injured. All our solidarity and closeness goes to our Czech neighbors and friends in this difficult time”
We received shocking news of several people killed at the university in Prague. My thoughts are with the victims and injured. All our solidarity and compassion goes out to our Czech neighbors and friends in this difficult hour.
— Nancy Faeser (@NancyFaeser) December 21, 2023
The message from the Farnesina
Finally, the Farnesina is “monitoring the evolution of events in Prague in collaboration with the local authorities”. The website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs writes this on X, adding that, for reports, it is necessary to contact the Crisis Unit and visit the Viaggiare Sicuri website.
⚠️#Farnesina e @ItalyinCZ they monitor the evolution of events in Prague in collaboration with local authorities. Immediately informed, Min @Antonio_Tajani is following developments. For reports contact #UnitàdiCrisi on +39 06 36225 and visit the Viaggiare Sicuri website pic.twitter.com/nKrOMRxP95
— Farnesina (@ItalyMFA) December 21, 2023
Reproduction is expressly reserved © Time.news 2023
#Massacre #University #Prague #dead #injured #assailant #killed