PRAGUE — Three international nationals had been among the many 25 folks wounded when a pupil opened fireplace at a college within the Czech capital, Prague, capturing lifeless 14 folks earlier than killing himself, authorities stated Friday. It was the worst mass capturing in Czech historical past.
Inside Minister Vit Rakusan stated police in Prague labored in a single day and all of the 14 who died in Thursday’s assault have been recognized. The Institute of Music Sciences confirmed that its head, Lenka Hlávková, was among the many lifeless.
The Czech International Ministry confirmed that three of these wounded had been foreigners — two from United Arab Emirates and one from the Netherlands,
The bloodshed occurred on the School of Arts of Charles College, the place the 24-year-old shooter was a pupil, Prague Police Chief Martin Vondrasek stated. Petr Matejcek, the director of the police regional headquarters in Prague stated the gunman killed himself on the balcony of the college constructing when cops approached him. The gunman’s title has not been launched.
Authorities warned that the demise toll might rise.
Early Friday, with the scene of the capturing nonetheless sealed off by the police, folks could possibly be seen lighting candles to mourn the victims at an impromptu vigil by the college headquarters.
Police stated Friday they’ve boosted safety at faculties and different “mushy targets” — often public amenities which can be troublesome to safe — in a safety measure. College rectors additionally stated they’d work with police consultants on extra preventive measures to extend safety round campus.
Police have launched no particulars concerning the lifeless and wounded or a doable motive for the capturing on the constructing. Rakusan stated Thursday that investigators did not suspect a hyperlink to any extremist ideology or teams. Officers stated they believed the gunman acted alone.
Vondrasek, the police chief, stated they consider the person killed his father earlier on Thursday in his hometown of Hostoun, simply west of Prague, and that he had additionally been planning to kill himself. He additionally stated the gunman was suspected of killing a person and his 2-month-old daughter on Dec. 15, in Prague.
Police stated the shooter had legally owned a number of weapons and that he was closely armed throughout the assault.
Leaders from many nations, together with america, and the U.N Secretary-Common conveyed their condolences. The Czech authorities declared Saturday a nationwide day of mourning to honor the victims.
Beforehand, the nation’s worst mass capturing was in 2015, when a gunman opened fireplace within the southeastern city of Uhersky Brod, killing eight earlier than fatally capturing himself.
The constructing the place the capturing occurred is situated close to the Vltava River in Jan Palach Sq., a busy vacationer space in Prague’s Previous City. It’s only a few minutes’ stroll from the picturesque Previous City Sq., a serious vacationer attraction the place a preferred Christmas market attracts hundreds of holiday makers.