Attacker killed himself after university shooting – police
Czech police have confirmed that the gunman shot and killed himself yesterday after seeing police were encircling him “from all directions”, the BBC reports.
Key events
Summary of the day
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The Czech Republic declared that Saturday would be a day of mourning after a 24-year-old student killed 14 people and wounded 25 others at Charles University’s arts faculty on Thursday.
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Czech police confirmed that the man shot and killed himself.
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The authorities are also investigating his possible link to a separate incident.
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The shooter had a licence for eight weapons, two of which were long-range, according to the authorities.
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Czech police said today that they were implementing preventive security measures across the country.
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Mourners gathered in Prague to pay their respects to the victims.
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Petr Fiala, the Czech prime minister, asked people to show consideration and avoid spreading unverified information.
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“No one can imagine the fear and mental strain they went through yesterday,” wrote the Czech president, Petr Pavel.
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Joe Biden said US authorities were in touch with Czech law enforcement and were ready to offer additional support if needed.
Another photo from Prague, where people are paying their respects.
The Czech prime minister, Petr Fiala, paid his respects to the victims of yesterday’s deadly shooting in central Prague.
“No one can imagine the fear and mental strain they went through yesterday,” wrote the Czech president, Petr Pavel.
My thoughts are still with families of the victims, injured and those who had to fight for their lives at the Faculty of Arts. No one can imagine the fear and mental strain they went through yesterday. From the bottom of my heart I would like to thank for the sincere condolences…
— Petr Pavel (@prezidentpavel) December 22, 2023
“No gesture can replace the loss of a loved one, but we are here with you, offering support and solidarity,” wrote the US ambassador to the Czech Republic, Bijan Sabet.
It is with deep sadness that I lay flowers at@UniKarlova on behalf of the American people. Our hearts are with the victims and their loved ones. No gesture can replace the loss of a loved one, but we are here with you, offering support and solidarity. https://t.co/1xNyRNZl7y
— Bijan Sabet (@bijan) December 22, 2023
Police share timeline of events
Czech police have shared a detailed timeline of yesterday’s deadly shooting:
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12:26: Police received information from a friend of the shooter who received a “suicide SMS” from him.
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12:47: Police found a dead man in the shooter’s house and a few minutes later determined it was his father.
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13:15: Police announced a nationwide search for the suspect.
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13:49: Police determined that the shooter could be heading to one of the university campuses.
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14:22: Police started an evacuation of one campus.
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14:59: Shooting starts at a nearby campus.
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First police officers arrive minutes later.
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15:11: Shooter on the roof.
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15:20: Shooter dead by suicide. He shot himself using his rifle.
The authorities are also investigating the shooter’s possible link to a separate incident: a murder last week of a father and his baby in the Klanovice forest. Prague police are “still waiting for official ballistic test results” regarding the incident.
The shooter had a licence for eight weapons, two of which were long-range. It is still unclear how many of them he brought to the university building, police said.
Ladka Bauerova reported from Prague
Mourners in Prague today
Czech police said the shooter also injured three people on the street, Czech television reports.
Střelec z ochozu filozofické fakulty zranil i tři lidi na ulici, uvedla policie. Když se k němu blížili policisté, zastřelil se zřejmě brokovnicí.
— ČT24 (@CT24zive) December 22, 2023
Attacker killed himself after university shooting – police
Czech police have confirmed that the gunman shot and killed himself yesterday after seeing police were encircling him “from all directions”, the BBC reports.
Police: 14 victims and the shooter dead; 25 injured
Czech police said in an update that 15 people – 14 victims and the assailant – died in yesterday’s shooting.
Twenty-five people are injured, including three foreigners: two people from the United Arab Emirates and one from the Netherlands.
The police update differed from comments made by the country’s interior minister earlier in the morning. The minister had said there were 13 victims.
Ladka Bauerova reported from Prague
The British ambassador in Prague, Matt Field, has expressed his condolences.
Včerejší den byl v dějinách této úžasné země strašlivým dnem. Mnoho lidí v Británii mě požádalo, abych vyjádřil lásku a podporu našim českým přátelům, zejména studentům a zaměstnancům @CharlesUniPRG.
Jménem 🇬🇧 vám všem vyjadřuji naši nejhlubší soustrast.
Je mi to moc líto🖤 pic.twitter.com/aJEa8wGiCW— Matt Field (@MattFieldUK) December 22, 2023
Sophie Anderson, a UK-based writer, is your guide to the latest trends, viral sensations, and internet phenomena. With a finger on the pulse of digital culture, she explores what’s trending across social media and pop culture, keeping readers in the know about the latest online sensations.
