PRAGUE — Czech police investigated Friday why a pupil went on a dayslong violent rampage culminating in a taking pictures on the college he attended in Prague that left 14 lifeless and dozens wounded.
Investigators consider the gunman within the mass taking pictures Thursday in a philosophy division constructing at Charles College additionally killed his personal father earlier within the day, and one other man and a child final week.
Residents in the meantime had been grappling with the nation’s worst mass taking pictures within the coronary heart of the historic capital metropolis. Political leaders, college students, associates of the victims and others got here collectively to gentle candles throughout an impromptu vigil for the victims.
“A number of of my associates research on the philosophy college at Charles College,” stated Kristof Unger, a pupil who attended the vigil. “They’ve been actually traumatized by the taking pictures there and I simply needed to make them really feel slightly bit higher.”
Robert Hanus, one other of the vigil’s attendees, stated everybody ought to come collectively to take a stand in opposition to the assault. “This should not be normalized,” he stated.
The college’s rector, Milena Kralickova, was additionally among the many throngs lighting candles. “The tutorial neighborhood is shaken, deeply shaken,” she stated.
The Czech authorities declared Saturday a nationwide day of mourning.
Petr Matejcek, the director of the police regional headquarters in Prague, stated the gunman, whose title has not been launched, killed himself on the balcony of the college constructing as officers closed in. Police haven’t launched the gunman’s title, however stated they consider he was Czech.
Authorities stated Friday that 13 individuals died on the scene within the School of Arts and one died later in a hospital. A complete of 25 individuals had been wounded, together with three international nationals — two from the United Arab Emirates and one from the Netherlands. Authorities warned that the demise toll may rise.
Inside Minister Vit Rakusan stated police in Prague labored in a single day and that each one 14 who died have been recognized. Authorities didn’t launch any names, however the Institute of Music Sciences confirmed that its head, Lenka Hlávková, was among the many lifeless.
Police have launched no particulars a few potential motive for the taking pictures. The inside minister stated Thursday that investigators didn’t suspect a hyperlink to any extremist ideology or teams. Officers stated they believed the gunman acted alone. He has no felony document.
Prague Police Chief Martin Vondrasek stated investigators consider the person killed his father earlier on Thursday in his hometown of Hostoun, simply west of Prague. He stated the gunman was additionally suspected within the killing of a person and his 2-month-old daughter on Dec. 15 on the outskirts of the capital.
Police stated the shooter legally owned a number of weapons and that he was closely armed throughout the assault.
Beforehand, the nation’s worst mass taking pictures was in 2015, when a gunman opened hearth within the southeastern city of Uhersky Brod, killing eight earlier than fatally taking pictures himself.
Charles College was established in 1348 and the School of Arts is one among its oldest academic amenities. The constructing the place the taking pictures happened is positioned close to the Vltava River in Jan Palach Sq., a busy vacationer space in Prague’s Outdated City. It’s only a few minutes’ stroll from the picturesque Outdated City Sq., a serious vacationer attraction the place a preferred Christmas market attracts hundreds of tourists.
Police stated Friday they’ve boosted safety at faculties and different “delicate targets” — normally public amenities which are tough to safe — in a safety measure till at the very least Jan 1. College rectors additionally stated they had been working with legislation enforcement on growing campus safety.
___
AP video journalists Fanny Brodersen and Hakan Kaplan in Prague contributed.