By Ben Kerrigan-
PRAGUE- A crazed 24-year-old gunman unleashed terror at a university in Prague, resulting in at least 15 confirmed deaths and over 20 people injured.
The assailant, identified as a student at the faculty of arts at Charles University, legally owned firearms and had earlier killed his own father, according to police officials.
The deadly shooting unfolded at the university, marking the country’s worst-ever mass shooting. Witnesses reported chaotic scenes as crowds of people fled the area, seeking safety from the assailant.
Eight students were spotted hiding in terror on a ledge high up outdoors as the horror unfolded.
Reports indicate that the gunman, positioned on a balcony, began shooting towards a bridge in the vicinity of Jan Palach Square, a popular area, especially during the Christmas season.
The university’s philosophy department was evacuated, and the square was swiftly sealed off as police responded to the unfolding crisis.
While the motive behind the attack remains under investigation, the gunman’s death adds complexity to the unfolding tragedy. Authorities are yet to confirm whether the assailant died by suicide or was shot by law enforcement officers during the incident.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala cancelled his plans to visit Prague in light of the tragedy. He thanked emergency services that responded, saying his thoughts are with the bereaved and condemning the act.
“There is no justification for this horrific act. Like many of you, I feel profound sadness and disgust in the face of this sickening violence,” he wrote on social media.
Prague’s rescue service reported nine people with serious injuries, adding to the gravity of the situation.
Police said they were still searching the area, including the balcony, for possible explosives. The building was evacuated, Prague Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda said.
Notably, police chief Martin Vondrasek revealed that the gunman may have been influenced by a recent terrorist attack in Russia.
“We have very fresh unconfirmed information from an account on a social network that he was supposedly inspired by one terrorist attack in Russia in the autumn of this year,” stated Vondrasek. The police chief described the incident as a “pre-mediated horrific act.”
The individual’s name, as reported by some Czech media, aligns with a police search report and social network posts suggesting inspiration drawn from a mass shooting in Russia. The gunman, who legally owned firearms, reportedly expressed hatred for the world shortly before the violent rampage.
The shocking incident has left the city of Prague in mourning, prompting an outpouring of grief and calls for unity in the face of such a devastating tragedy.