Prague University Shooting: Shooter takes own life after killing 14, injuring 25
Prague University Shooting: At least 14 people were killed and 25 injured in a shooting at a university in Prague on Thursday.
According to Czech Police Chief Martin Vondrasek, so far evidence shows that the shooter killed self, but this has yet to be confirmed. He also stated that due to the severity of the suspect's injuries, he had not been formally identified.
Vondrasek revised the number of people killed to 14 at a later news conference on Thursday night, after previously saying 15 had died. According to CNN, ten of the 25 people injured were in critical condition.
According to emergency services, nine people were severely injured, five or six received medium-severe injuries, and ten were lightly injured. The number of people injured has also lowered but the number could still change given the evolving situation, according to authorities.
During the shooting, some students locked themselves in classrooms, according to a police update on X. A social media image also showed several students hiding on a ledge high up the building.
The incident occurred in the heart of the capital, at the Faculty of Arts building of Charles University. According to CNN, the area is popular with tourists and close to major attractions, located just across the Vltava River from Prague Castle.
According to the university's website, classes were held on Thursday and the university was scheduled to go on Christmas break on December 23.
According to the police chief, authorities had information about the shooter prior to the incident, stating that the police received a tip that the shooter was planning to take his own life in Prague. Soon after, they received word that a deceased man had been found in Hostoun. The man is believed to be the suspect's father.
Vondrasek stated that the police were aware of the shooter's lecture at 2 p.m. CET and thus evacuated the building where the lecture was scheduled to take place. However, according to the police chief, the officers then received a call about a shooting in a different building.
Vondrasek said the suspected shooter had a gun permit and owned several weapons.
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