Tragic Shooting Rampage at Charles University Leaves 14 Dead

At least 14 individuals tragically lost their lives in a horrifying shooting rampage that took place at Charles University in the Czech Republic on Thursday. The gunman, a 24-year-old student enrolled in the same university, also succumbed to his injuries.

According to Martin Vondrasek, the police chief of Prague, 14 people were confirmed dead, while 25 others sustained injuries. Authorities fear that the death toll may rise as some of the injured individuals are currently in critical condition.

The assailant’s violent spree began around 15:00 local time within the corridors and classrooms of the university building. Reports suggest that the gunman initially targeted his father at their family home in a nearby village, located outside of Prague. Shockingly, it has also come to light that he was responsible for the deaths of a man and a child a week prior to the university incident.

As the shooting unfolded, terrified staff and students attempted to protect themselves by using furniture to barricade the doors of classrooms. Disturbing footage circulating on social media shows the gunman randomly firing shots from the building’s balcony, while other individuals can be seen desperately perched on the exterior ledge in a bid to escape the horrific situation.

Recalling the harrowing experience, Radek Simik, an associate professor in linguistics at Charles University, shared his account with The New York Times. Simik and his five students were in the middle of a lesson when they heard shouting emanating from the corridor. Initially assuming it to be the commotion caused by a drunk individual or a protester, they soon realized the seriousness of the situation as the noise grew louder. Authorities then urgently instructed everyone to evacuate the premises.

Simik further revealed, “The shooting continued as we were outside the building.” He witnessed the police carrying injured individuals and others who appeared to have tragically lost their lives.

As of now, it remains uncertain whether the gunman took his own life or was killed during an exchange of gunfire with law enforcement officers. Vondrasek stated that there is currently no evidence suggesting the involvement of an accomplice, and the incident does not appear to be linked to international or domestic terrorism.

However, an investigation is underway to determine whether a Telegram post under the name David Kozak is connected to the assailant. In the message, Kozak expressed inspiration from recent mass shootings in Russia, particularly a school shooting in Bryansk and another in Kazan in 2021.

The New York Times reported that on December 10, the post stated, “I was very inspired by Alina… very much,” referring to Alina Afanaskina, a 14-year-old Russian girl who tragically opened fire on her classmates with a pump shotgun in Bryansk, resulting in the deaths of two individuals. The post continued, “She certainly did not kill enough. I will try to fix that.”

The devastating incident at Charles University has left President Petr Pavel filled with “great sadness” and “helpless anger at the totally unnecessary loss of life.”