A shooting at the University of Prague left at least fifteen dead on Thursday, December 21, announced the head of the Czech police. “At least 24 people were injured”added Martin Vondrasek to the press.
“The numbers can still change”had earlier warned the emergency services on the social networkcounting eleven injured “serious”eight injured “moderate” and five injured “light”. “We have already evacuated the entire building and a pyrotechnic inspection is underway”specified the police late in the afternoon, after having herself reported that the shooter had been “eliminated”.
According to Martin Vondrasek, the attacker, aged 24, was studying at the Faculty of Arts at Charles University in Prague. Police reportedly found the suspect’s father dead on Thursday. “There is no indication that this crime is linked to international terrorism”Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan told reporters.
“Tragedy of unprecedented proportions”
The Prague emergency department added on “large number of ambulance units” had been deployed at the faculty. Interior Minister Vit Rakusan told state television that the presence of“no other shooter” had not been “confirmed” and called on the population to follow the instructions of the police. The members of the government are summoned Thursday at 9 p.m. to a “extraordinary meeting”which will be followed by a press conference.
The Czech president declared “shocked” by this deadly shooting. “I would like to express my deep regret and sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims of the shooting”declared Petr Pavel, who ends a two-day visit to Paris on Thursday, on. Prime Minister Petr Fiala announcement cancel his commitments for the day to return to Prague.
” I have no words. All I feel right now is sadness.”, wrote the mayor of PragueBohuslav Svoboda, describing a “tragedy of unprecedented proportions” : “It is appalling how many innocent lives have been destroyed. » Police closed the area and asked people living nearby to stay home.
“Great emotion upon learning that Charles University in Prague was the target of a deadly shooting”reacted Emmanuel Macronexpressing his “solidarity with the victims, the injured and their loved ones, as well as with the Czech people and authorities”. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyensaid his side on X “shocked by the senseless violence of the shooting which cost several lives today in Prague”.