By KAREL JANICEK (Associated Press)
PRAGUE (AP) — A lone gunman opened fireplace Thursday in a college constructing in downtown Prague, killing not less than 14 individuals and injuring greater than 20 within the Czech Republic’s worst mass taking pictures, police and town’s rescue service stated.
The bloodshed came about within the philosophy division constructing of Charles University, the place the shooter was a pupil, Prague Police Chief Martin Vondrasek stated. The gunman additionally died, authorities stated. His title has not been launched.
Vondrasek stated within the night that 14 individuals had died and 25 have been injured, after earlier reporting that 15 had died and 24 have been harm. He didn’t clarify the change. Authorities warned that the dying toll might rise.
Police gave no particulars in regards to the victims or a doable motive for the taking pictures on the constructing positioned close to the Vltava River in Jan Palach Square. Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan stated investigators don’t suspect a hyperlink to any extremist ideology or teams.
Vondrasek stated police imagine the gunman killed his father earlier Thursday in his hometown of Hostoun, simply west of Prague, and that he had additionally been planning to kill himself. He didn’t elaborate.
Later Thursday, Vondrasek stated that primarily based on a search of his residence, the gunman was additionally suspected within the killing of one other man and his 2-month-old daughter Dec. 15, within the east of Prague.
The chief described the shooter as a superb pupil with no legal report, however didn’t present another info.
The gunman suffered “devastating injuries” nevertheless it wasn’t clear if he killed himself or was shot to dying in an trade of gunfire with officers, Vondrasek stated, including that there was “nothing to suggest that he had an accomplice.”
The shooter legally owned a number of weapons — police stated he was closely armed Thursday and was carrying a variety of ammunition — and that what he did was “well thought out, a horrible act,” Vondrasek stated.
University authorities stated they might tighten safety in college buildings with instant impact.
“We mourn the loss of life of members of our university community, express our deepest condolences to all the bereaved and our thoughts are with all those affected by the tragedy,” Charles University stated in a press release.
The constructing the place the taking pictures came about is close to the Vltava River in Jan Palach Square, a busy vacationer space in Prague’s Old Town. It is just some minutes’ stroll from the picturesque Old Town Square, a serious vacationer attraction the place a preferred Christmas market attracts hundreds of holiday makers.
The authorities rapidly sought to quell considerations that the bloodbath was again by international pursuits.
“There’s no indication that it has anything to do with international terrorism,” Rakusan stated.
“It’s a horrible crime, something the Czech Republic has never experienced,” he stated.
Pavel Nedoma, the director of the close by Rudolfinum Gallery, stated he watched from a window as an individual standing on a balcony of the constructing fired a gun.
Authorities evacuated everybody from the constructing and police stated they have been nonetheless looking out the realm, together with the balcony, for explosives.
The constructing types a part of the sq. and faces a bridge throughout the river with a view of Prague Castle, the seat of the Czech presidency. President Petr Pavel stated he was “shocked” by what occurred and provided his condolences to the family of the victims, as did leaders of Germany, France and Slovakia, the European Union and Israel.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre despatched a message of condolence.
“The president and the first lady are praying for the families who lost loved ones and everyone else who has been affected by this senseless act of violence,” Jean-Pierre stated. “On behalf of the United States, we send our condolences and also wish the survivors of this tragic event a speedy recovery.”
The Czech authorities deliberate to fulfill later Thursday for an emergency session to debate the taking pictures.
Previously, the nation’s worst mass taking pictures was in 2015, when a gunman opened fireplace within the southeastern city of Uhersky Brod, killing eight earlier than fatally taking pictures himself.
On Thursday, the place vacationers, college students and others would usually be having fun with the view of the enduring monument, chaos and terror as an alternative took maintain. Police autos and ambulances sped throughout the bridge with their sirens wailing. Officers sealed off the empty sq..
Some video footage confirmed individuals being evacuated from the constructing and others attempting to cover behind a wall.
Ivo Havranek, a diving teacher, stated he was close to the constructing when he heard a shot ring out, however he didn’t fairly imagine that was what he had heard.
“Only at the moment when I saw the fully equipped riot police with bulletproof vests and shields, it looked to me that I had found myself in a movie,” Havranek stated. “But it was obvious that nobody was shooting a movie.”
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Associated Press video journalist Stanislav Hodina in Prague and author Zeke Miller in Washington, D.C., contributed.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”