what we know about the shooting that left 13 dead at a university in the Czech capital

The shooter committed suicide at the scene of the shooting. According to the first elements of the investigation, the suspect was a 24-year-old student.

This is the biggest shooting the Czech Republic has experienced since the country became an independent state in 1993. Thirteen people were killed and 25 others were injured on Thursday, December 21, at the prestigious Charles University in Prague. The suspect, a 24-year-old man, committed suicide at the scene of the attack. The track of “international terrorism” was ruled out, according to Interior Minister Vit Rakusan. Franceinfo looks back on this tragedy which left the Czech capital in mourning.

A very heavy toll

The events took place in the historic center of Prague and provoked a massive intervention by heavily armed police, evacuations and warnings inviting the population to stay indoors. The shooting broke out at the arts faculty, located near major tourist sites such as the 14th-century Charles Bridge. At 2:59 p.m., “we have received the first information about the shooting”, explained the police chief, Martin Vondrasek, during a press conference. A response unit arrived on scene within 12 minutes, he added.

The police first searched the building of the faculty of arts where the shooter was to attend a class, but the latter went to another building, located nearby, and the police did not arrest him in time . He was found dead at the scene at 3:20 p.m., according to the police chief. Police said Friday morning that he committed suicide.

In a new report communicated on Friday, the Minister of the Interior revised the death toll from the shooting downwards, reporting 13 victims. Initially, the authorities first mentioned “more than 15 dead”, then mentioned 14 deaths a few hours later, without specifying whether or not this toll included the shooter. The police chief also reported Thursday evening that 25 people were injured, “including ten seriously”.

A suspect already wanted

According to the first elements of the investigation, the suspect is a man, aged 24, who was studying at Charles University in Prague. Police began searching for him even before the shooting, after his father was found dead in the middle of the day in the village of Hostoun, west of the capital, Martin Vondrasek told reporters. The young man “left for Prague saying he wanted to kill himself”explained the police official to the press.

According to the first elements of the investigation, relayed by Czech media such as Bleskhe owned several firearms. “He was a quiet boy, an introvert. He didn’t talk to us much”, according to a student cited by Radio Prague International. A former classmate, who had known him a few years previously at high school, speaks of a young man “very discreet, who didn’t talk to many people”.

The terrorist trail ruled out

“There is no indication that this crime is linked to international terrorism”, Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan told the press. Citing a social media investigation, Martin Vondrasek said the shooter was inspired by a “similar case which occurred in Russia this fall”without going into details. “For the moment, there is nothing to suggest that there is any other imminent danger”he stressed.

A day of national mourning declared

The Czech president said “shocked by these events” : “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. A day of national mourning will be held on Saturday, announced the Prime Minister, Petr Fiala, on.

The head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen immediately sent a message of compassion to the Czechs. “We stand with you and cry with you”she wrote in her message on. French President Emmanuel Macron also expressed his “solidarity” with the Czech people.

Many other European leaders, such as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, also expressed their emotion. “My heart goes out to those who lost their lives in the senseless shooting in Prague, to the injured and to the Czech people”reacted on US President Joe Biden, who says “ready to offer additional support if necessary.”