At least 15 people including the shooter were killed and 30 others injured in a shooting incident on Thursday, December 21, 2023, at a university in Prague, the Czech Republic’s capital.
The tragedy unfolded at Charles University’s Faculty of Arts building, located in the historic Jan Palach Square, prompting a swift response from Czech police.
The assailant, identified as David Kozák, a 24-year-old student of the university, had earlier expressed intentions of killing his father.
Following his attack on a group of people at the university, Kozák reportedly committed suicide by jumping from a building.
Earlier in the day, Czech Police Chief Martin Vondrasek was alerted that Kozák, hailing from the Kladno region near Prague, might head to the capital to end his life.
Subsequently, Kozák’s father was found dead.
Details surrounding the victims and the exact sequence of the shooting remained unclear, as police and emergency services were focused on crisis management and providing necessary assistance.
Interior Minister Vit Rakusan, addressing the Czech public on television, confirmed the death of the shooter and assured that no other perpetrators were involved, alleviating concerns about further threats. He urged the public’s cooperation with the ongoing police operations.
In response to the incident, police ordered the evacuation of the university building and cordoned off Jan Palach Square. The Philosophical Faculty of Charles University, situated in the square, was also evacuated.
Prague’s rescue service spokesperson Jana Postova reported multiple injuries.
Prime Minister Petr Fiala, who was scheduled to travel to the eastern Czech Republic, canceled his trip and headed to Prague in light of the event.
Gun-related crimes are relatively rare in the Czech Republic. A notable incident occurred in December 2019, when a 42-year-old gunman killed six people in an Ostrava hospital waiting room, later committing suicide.
Czech Foreign Affairs Minister Jan Lipavský expressed condolences to the victims’ families and solidarity with the injured and affected individuals, describing the event as distressing.
