“Prague Mass Shooting: David Kozak Identified as Gunman in Czech Republic’s Worst Mass Shooting”

Accident – death – Obituary News : For Immediate Release:
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Tragedy Strikes Prague as Lone Gunman Targets Students at Top University

Prague, Czech Republic – The picturesque city of Prague is in shock after a lone gunman opened fire on students at Charles University, resulting in the country’s worst mass shooting incident. The horrifying event unfolded on Thursday afternoon, sending waves of panic throughout the city center.

Videos circulating on social media captured the chaos and fear that engulfed Jan Palach Square, where the university is located. Tourists sought cover, while a group of desperate students clung to a building ledge in a desperate bid to save their lives. Czech police swiftly responded to the scene, only to be confronted with the devastating reality of 13 lives taken and the gunman’s suicide.

The gunman, identified as 24-year-old David Kozak, was described as an excellent student with no prior criminal record. However, it has since come to light that Kozak is suspected of being responsible for the death of his father and a fatal shooting in a woodland area, where a man and his two-month-old daughter lost their lives just a week prior.

In the lead-up to the mass shooting, Kozak had allegedly kept a diary on the messaging app Telegram, expressing his desire to carry out a school shooting and possibly commit suicide. The motive behind his actions remains under investigation.

Of the injured individuals, 10 are reported to be in serious condition, according to Prague’s Police Chief Martin Vondrasek.

The Timeline of Events:

The tragedy began unfolding shortly after 3pm when Czech police received reports of a shooting at Charles University’s faculty of arts building in Jan Palach Square. However, authorities had received a tip earlier in the day about a man who was likely planning to take his own life in Prague. This information prompted a search for the individual, who was later identified as Kozak.

At Kozak’s residence, police discovered his father’s lifeless body, along with weapons and explosives. It was then established that the suspect was due to attend a lecture at the university building just off Old Town Square in Prague. A national search for Kozak was initiated, and at 2.49pm, it was reported that he was in the vicinity of Jan Palach Square.

At 2.59pm, shots were heard, prompting an immediate response from armed police officers who entered the building within minutes. Distressed students were evacuated while law enforcement meticulously cleared the floors. Dramatic footage captured during a press conference showcased the harrowing scene as officers worked to ensure the safety of those trapped inside.

Videos shared on social media showed crowds fleeing the square, while students barricaded themselves in classrooms using furniture to block the doors. Images also revealed the shooter dressed in black and wielding a large gun, taking aim at the square.

The area was swiftly cordoned off, with authorities urging people to evacuate the surrounding streets and stay indoors. One British couple, on their honeymoon in Prague, described the terrifying moment when a police officer rushed into their restaurant, urging them to take cover.

The aftermath of the shooting revealed piles of ammunition in the corridors, highlighting the potential for even greater carnage had the gunman not chosen to end his own life on the university balcony.

Thirteen lives were tragically lost, and several others underwent critical surgeries after being rushed to the hospital. Among the victims, three were foreign nationals, including two individuals from the United Arab Emirates and one from the Netherlands.

Investigating the Gunman:

Although Czech police have not officially released the gunman’s identity, David Kozak has been widely named as the perpetrator. Authorities do not believe he had any extremist affiliations and suspect he acted alone without any accomplices.

However, chilling posts on encrypted social media platforms suggest that Kozak may have been influenced by a recent school shooting in Russia, in which a 14-year-old girl killed her classmate and injured five others. In one post, Kozak mentioned a girl named Alina Afanaskina, stating that she had helped him and expressing his desire to commit mass murder rather than serial killings.

Furthermore, police are currently investigating whether Kozak is connected to the deaths of a man and his two-month-old daughter in the Klanovicky forest near Prague, which occurred a week prior to the mass shooting. While Kozak is a suspect in the case, further ballistic tests are needed to confirm his involvement.

Official Statements:

Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan stated that there is no indication of international terrorism in connection with the shooting. Prime Minister Petr Fiala expressed his gratitude to the emergency services for their swift response and extended his condolences to the bereaved families. He emphasized that there is no justification for this horrific act and that the Czech Republic has never experienced such violence.

Gun violence is relatively rare in the Czech Republic, and this incident is believed to be the deadliest in the country’s history. The last major shooting occurred in December 2019 when a gunman killed six people at a hospital waiting room in Ostrava before taking his own life.

In 2015, another tragic incident unfolded when a man fatally shot eight people at a restaurant in Uhersky Brod before ending his own life.

As investigations continue, the city of Prague mourns the loss of innocent lives and grapples with the devastating aftermath of this senseless act of violence..