The Czech Republic declared Saturday (22 December) a national mourning day after an armed man shot dead 14 people and injured 25 at a university in Prague.
Police reported that the gunman was “eliminated.” He is also believed to have killed his father and may be linked to the deaths of two people last week, making the incident one of the worst mass shootings in Europe in recent years.
The shooter was a 24-year-old university student who had no previous criminal record, but police added that they found a “huge arsenal of weapons and ammunition.”
According to a police report, the shooting started around 3pm local time on Thursday at the Faculty of Arts building of Charles University located in the heart of Prague. The gunman opened indiscriminate fire in the corridors and classrooms of the building, while university staff and students used furniture to barricade themselves in classrooms.
Prior to the shooting, the police received a report that the suspect was allegedly heading to Prague from a neighbouring city with the intention of committing suicide. A short time later, the man’s father was discovered dead.
Following the report, police evacuated another university building where the gunman was due to attend a lecture. However, officers were soon called to the main faculty building nearby.
President Petr Pavel expressed “great sadness” and “helpless anger at the totally unnecessary” loss of life.
