Thursday marked a tragic day in the history of the Czech Republic, as the nation experienced its deadliest shooting incident in the past three decades.

A 24-year-old gunman carried out a horrifying attack at Charles University in Prague, resulting in the loss of 14 innocent lives and leaving 25 others injured. The police have confirmed that the assailant was subsequently “eliminated.”

The shocking incident unfolded at the Faculty of Arts building on Jan Palach Square, at approximately 15:00 local time (07:30 IST).

Videos circulating on social media captured the terrifying scene as students clung to the walls of the university building, with some resorting to jumping from ledges several floors above to ensure their safety. The sound of gunshots rang through the air, intensifying the chaos.

The gunman, identified as David Kozak by local media, allegedly committed patricide before targeting his fellow classmates. Kozak was enrolled as a student at Charles University, pursuing studies in Polish history.

Law enforcement authorities believe Kozak turned the gun on himself after engaging in a firefight with officers on a walkway of the building, potentially sustaining injuries. Although an autopsy is pending, authorities suspect that the severity of his wounds suggests suicide.

Authorities, as reported by The Telegraph, have described the gunman’s actions as a meticulously planned and abhorrent act, considering the extensive arsenal of firearms he possessed.

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In the days leading up to the tragic incident, Kozak allegedly posted disturbing messages on social media, expressing dark fantasies related to suicide and mass murder.

According to the police, the gunman was driven by a “terrible event abroad.” In one of his posts, Kozak referenced a 14-year-old Russian school shooter who killed one classmate and injured five others, serving as an inspiration.

The Czech Republic’s interior minister has indicated that the authorities are investigating whether the gunman was also responsible for the recent deaths of two individuals in a forest near Prague.

It is important to note that school shootings are significantly less prevalent in Europe compared to the United States.

Let’s explore some of the deadliest school shootings that have occurred on the continent over the past 25 years, excluding incidents related to terrorism:

On 3 May, a 13-year-old opened fire at an elementary school in downtown Belgrade, resulting in the tragic deaths of eight fellow classmates and a security guard. Six children and a teacher also sustained injuries. The shooter subsequently contacted the police and was apprehended.

In Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014, an 18-year-old gunman took the lives of 20 people, including nine children, at a technical college on 17 October 2018. The assailant then turned the weapon on himself.

Ilnaz Galyaviev, armed with a shotgun and an explosive device, initiated an attack on 11 May 2021 at School Number 175 in Kazan, Russia. Galyaviev claimed the lives of nine people, predominantly children, and was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment in 2023.

On 20 September 2021, a student dressed in black tactical clothing and equipped with a hunting rifle embarked on a rampage through Perm State University buildings, resulting in the deaths of six individuals, primarily women, and injuring two dozen others. The assailant was apprehended by law enforcement officers, sustaining gunshot wounds in the process.

In a revenge-driven act following expulsion, a 19-year-old former student perpetrated a school shooting on 26 April 2002 in Erfurt, Germany, claiming the lives of 16 people, including 12 teachers and two students, before taking his own life.

Another tragic incident occurred on 11 March 2009 in Winnenden, southern Germany, where a former pupil killed nine pupils, three teachers, and three passers-by before committing suicide.

In southern Finland on 7 November 2007, an 18-year-old student opened fire in a school, resulting in the deaths of five boys, two girls, and the headmistress, followed by the assailant taking his own life.

In yet another devastating incident on 23 September 2008, eleven people, including the gunman, lost their lives in a massacre at a training school in Kauhajoki, Finland.

Input from AFP contributed to this report.