Police search a motive as Prague mourns 14 individuals killed within the nation’s worst mass capturing
PRAGUE — Czech police investigated Friday why a pupil went on a dayslong violent rampage culminating in a capturing on the college he attended in Prague that left 14 lifeless and dozens wounded.
Investigators imagine the gunman within the mass capturing Thursday in a philosophy division constructing at Charles University additionally killed his personal father earlier within the day, and one other man and a child final week.
Residents in the meantime had been grappling with the nation’s worst mass capturing within the coronary heart of the historic capital metropolis. Political leaders, college students, buddies of the victims and others got here collectively to mild candles throughout an impromptu vigil for the victims.
“A few of my friends study at the philosophy faculty at Charles University,” stated Kristof Unger, a pupil who attended the vigil. “They have been really traumatized by the shooting there and I just wanted to make them feel a little bit better.”
Robert Hanus, one other of the vigil’s attendees, stated everybody ought to come collectively to take a stand towards the assault. “This shouldn’t be normalized,” he stated.
The college’s rector, Milena Kralickova, was additionally among the many throngs lighting candles. “The academic community is shaken, deeply shaken,” she stated.
The Czech authorities declared Saturday a nationwide day of mourning.
Petr Matejcek, the director of the police regional headquarters in Prague, stated the gunman, whose title has not been launched, killed himself on the balcony of the college constructing as officers closed in. Police haven’t launched the gunman’s title, however stated they imagine he was Czech.
Authorities stated Friday that 13 individuals died on the scene within the Faculty of Arts and one died later in a hospital. A complete of 25 individuals had been wounded, together with three international nationals – two from the United Arab Emirates and one from the Netherlands. Authorities warned that the demise toll may rise.
Interior Minister Vit Rakusan stated police in Prague labored in a single day and that every one 14 who died have been recognized. Authorities didn’t launch any names, however the Institute of Music Sciences confirmed that its head, Lenka Hlávková, was among the many lifeless.
Police have launched no particulars a few doable motive for the capturing. The inside minister stated Thursday that investigators didn’t suspect a hyperlink to any extremist ideology or teams. Officials stated they believed the gunman acted alone.
Prague Police Chief Martin Vondrasek stated investigators imagine the person killed his father earlier on Thursday in his hometown of Hostoun, simply west of Prague. He stated the gunman was additionally suspected within the killing of a person and his 2-month-old daughter on Dec. 15 on the outskirts of the capital.
Police stated the shooter legally owned a number of weapons and that he was closely armed throughout the assault.
Previously, the nation’s worst mass capturing was in 2015, when a gunman opened hearth within the southeastern city of Uhersky Brod, killing eight earlier than fatally capturing himself.
Charles University was established in 1348 and the Faculty of Arts is one in all its oldest instructional amenities. The constructing the place the capturing befell is situated 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 significant vacationer attraction the place a well-liked Christmas market attracts hundreds of tourists.
Police stated Friday they’ve boosted safety at colleges and different “soft targets” – normally public amenities which are troublesome to safe – in a safety measure till a minimum of Jan 1. University rectors additionally stated they had been working with regulation enforcement on rising campus safety.
