A shooting near Charles University, located in Jan Palachno Square, in the center of Prague, left “several dead and dozens injured,” the Czech police reported this Thursday. The shooter was “eliminated” while seeking shelter on a rooftop.
Policie zasahuje v Praze na Náměstí Jana Palacha u nahlášené střelby ve škole. Podle prvních informací jsou na mistě mrtví a zranění lidé. Celé náměstí a blízké okolí jsou zcela uzavřeny. pic.twitter.com/EAbEQ8PZVE
– ČT24 (@CT24zive) December 21, 2023
“The shooter has been eliminated. The entire building is being evacuated and there are several dead and dozens injured,” the police wrote on the social network X.
The authorities reported that the entire square and its surroundings were closed.
The Central Military Hospital activated a plan to respond to the massive reception of wounded, according to the Czech press source CT24.
“Although there is no recent history of terrorism in the Czech Republic, the possibility of attacks cannot be excluded,” warns the British Government in a travel advisory addressed to those wishing to visit the Czech country.
Police are also asking citizens to stay away from the area and stay indoors.
Aktuálně zasahujeme na Náměstí Jana Palacha u nahlášené střelby ve škole. Na misto jedou v současné chvíli všechny složky IZS. Další informace poskytneme ihned, jak to bude možné. #policiepha
– Policie ČR (@PolicieCZ) December 21, 2023
The news was released this Thursday by the BBC, which quotes the statements of a witness to the Czech news channel Mlada Fronta Dnes: “Suddenly, I heard shots.”
A journalist studying in Prague shared a photo of how students barricaded themselves while waiting for the building to be evacuated.
Currently stuck inside my classroom in Prague. The shooter is dead, but we are waiting to be evacuated. Praying to get out alive.
He closed the door before the handler tried to open it. Damn hell. pic.twitter.com/wYyhOe5U6p
-Jakob Weizman (@jakobweizman) December 21, 2023
The university administration reportedly told employees, via email, to “remain quiet” and close the doors, following news of a shooting in one of the institution’s buildings.
“Shut up, don’t leave here, if you are in the offices, lock it and place the furniture in front of the door, turn off the lights,” reads the message addressed to school workers, seen by Reuters.
The Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jan Lipavský, declares himself “dismayed by the terrible event that occurred at the Faculty of Letters of Charles University.”
Jsem v šoku z hrůzné události na Filozofické fakultě Univerzity Karlovy. Upřímnou soustrast rodinám obětí. Myslím na zraněné, jejich blízké, na Studenty a na všechny, kterých se tenta otřesný čin dotkl.
– Jan Lipavský (@JanLipavsky) December 21, 2023
“My deepest condolences to the families of the victims. I think of the injured, their loved ones, the students and all those affected by this terrible act,” he added.
The mayor of Prague also states that he is “completely shocked by what happened at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Prague.”
Jsem naprosto šokovaný tím, co se stalo na Filozofické fakultě v Praze. Buďte, prosím, opatrní. Budeme informovat hned, jakmile budeme znát více Detailů.
– Bohuslav Svoboda, primator hl. meter. Prahy (@Svoboda_Slavek) December 21, 2023
“Please be careful. We will update the information as soon as we know more details,” he wrote.
News update
Source: TSF
