The world woke up to a terrible news that is dubbed “a terrible act, unprecedented in the history of the Czech Republic”.

At least 14 people were killed and 25 injured  in a shooting incident near the Charles University on Jan Palach Square in the Czech capital on Dec 21, police said, adding that the assailant has been eliminated. 

Prague varsity shooting

Speaking at a press briefing on the evening of Dec 21, Czech police president Martin Vondrasek said that 14 people died and 25 were injured, including 10 in serious conditions, in the shooting at the Faculty of Arts of Charles University on the afternoon of Dec 21.

He added that there was a huge arsenal of weapons and ammunition inside the faculty building, a Chinese news agency reported. 

“Had it not been for the quick intervention of the police, there would have been many more victims.”

Earlier, Vondrasek told journalists that more than 15 people lost their lives and at least 24 others were injured.

Police said on social media X that they are still investigating the identity of the victims, one of whom is a foreigner. The assailant has been eliminated.

According to a local news agency, local police were informed that a young man from Hostoun in the Central Bohemia Region was to leave for Prague, saying he wanted to take his own life. About 25 minutes later, the young man’s father was found dead in Houston, and the police consequently launched a search for the son as a suspect.

The police were also informed that the shooter was to give a lecture at the Faculty of Arts building on Celetna Street in Prague. Thus they evacuated the building, but the shooting took place in another one at Jan Palach Square, the local news agency added.

Czech prime minister Petr Fiala told media on the evening of Dec 21 that at the moment, the shooting seemed to be the act of a lone gunman, and it was neither international terrorism nor the act of an organised group.

Terrible act in the history 

Calling the shooting “a terrible act, unprecedented in the history of the Czech Republic,” interior minister Vit Rakusan has said that there is no indication that the shooting was linked to international terrorism.

After the largest city of the Czech Republic, and the historical capital of Bohemia, Prague met with an unfortunate incident, the government declared state mourning on Dec 23.

The Czech government made the announcement following an extraordinary meeting. State flags will be lowered to half-mast and citizens are called on to observe a minute of silence in memory of the victims of the shooting, the Chinese news agency reported.

In a statement following the attack, Charles University management said it has immediately recommended tightening security measures in university buildings and cancelling all events scheduled for today.

“We mourn the loss of life of members of our university community, express our deepest condolences to all the bereaved and our thoughts are with all those affected by the tragedy,” the statement said. 

“We now ask everyone to try to remain calm and composed, and we again extend our condolences to all those whose hearts have been broken by the loss of loved ones."

(Source: IANS)

-Edited for style

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