Prague shooting: Fatal incident leaves 15 dead; what we know so far
Prague's police chief confirmed that at least 15 people lost their lives in a mass shooting at Charles University.
The assailant, identified as a student of the university, was later found deceased in the Faculty of Arts building, where the horrific incident unfolded. The police, along with the Czech Republic's interior ministry, secured Jan Palach Square, evacuating the affected area and intensifying the search for potential explosives, including scouring the building's balconies.
Czech emergency services reported an additional 30 individuals injured, nine of them seriously. The gunman's father was also discovered dead earlier today. Authorities have yet to release the identities of the victims or further details regarding the circumstances of the shooting.
The incident unfolded in the heart of Prague's Old Town district, specifically at Jan Palach Square, home to The Philosophical Faculty of Charles University and the Academy of Arts, Architecture, and Design. The public was promptly advised to vacate the area, while students received urgent instructions to stay put and secure themselves in offices.
Eyewitnesses described the terrifying scene, with a student, Klara, recounting the harrowing experience of being evacuated amidst the chaos. «It was terribly scary. There were a lot of policemen everywhere, who were shouting at us with submachine guns, telling us to run outside,» she shared with iDnes.cz.
Prague mayor Bohuslav Svoboda confirmed the evacuation of both The Philosophical Faculty of Charles University and the Academy of Arts, Architecture, and Design. Petr Nedoma, director of the Rudolfinum Gallery, witnessed the assailant wielding an
