Prague: A horrific shooting spree took place at Charles University in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, on Thursday, December 21, 2023, when a student armed with a gun opened fire at the philosophy department building, killing 15 people and wounding 30 others. The police shot and killed the suspect, whose identity has not been revealed yet. The authorities are investigating the motive behind the attack and searching the area for any explosives.
The incident occurred around 10:30 a.m. local time when the student entered the building located at the Jan Palach intersection and started shooting randomly at the staff and students. Some of the victims managed to escape and call for help, while others hid inside the classrooms and offices. The police arrived at the scene within minutes and engaged in a gunfight with the shooter, who was eventually neutralized.
The police and the Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusson said that there was no evidence of any link between the shooter and any extremist group or ideology. They also said that there were no other attackers involved in the incident. They urged the public to stay away from the area and cooperate with the investigation.
The Prague Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda expressed his shock and grief over the tragedy and said that the philosophy department of Charles University had been evacuated and that the city would provide all the necessary support to the victims and their families. He also praised the police for their swift and professional response.
Charles University is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Europe, founded in 1348 by King Charles IV. It has more than 50,000 students and 7,000 staff members. The philosophy department is one of the largest and most renowned faculties of the university, offering courses in various disciplines such as history, sociology, psychology, and linguistics. The university has declared a day of mourning for the victims of the shooting.
