Flags will fly at half-mast on December 23 as individuals observe a minute’s silence for the victims of the assault at Prague’s Charles College.
The Czech Republic has declared a day of mourning after a 24-year-old pupil shot lifeless his father, earlier than killing 14 individuals and wounding 25 others at his Prague college within the nation’s worst-ever mass taking pictures.
Following a particular cupboard assembly, President Petr Pavel stated December 23 can be a day of mourning with flags on official buildings to be flown at half-mast and folks requested to watch a minute’s silence at midday.
“I would express my great sadness along with helpless anger at the unnecessary loss of so many young lives,” Pavel stated.
“I would like to express my sincere condolences to all relatives of the victims, to all who were at this tragic incident, the most tragic in the history of the Czech Republic.”
The taking pictures erupted on Thursday afternoon on the Charles College’s School of Arts, throughout the river from Prague Fort and close to different historic websites within the picturesque metropolis together with the 14th-century Charles Bridge.
Media pictures confirmed college students evacuating the constructing with their arms within the air, and others perched on a ledge close to the roof attempting to cover from the attacker, whereas college students barricaded school rooms with desks and chairs.
“I can confirm 14 victims of the horrible crime and 25 wounded, of which 10 seriously,” police chief Martin Vondrasek informed reporters after the taking pictures.
All of the victims have been killed contained in the constructing, he added. Media stories stated at the least a few of them have been the gunman’s fellow college students.
The Dutch Ministry of International Affairs stated one of many injured was a Dutch nationwide.
Individuals lit candles outdoors the college, which was established in 1348 and is likely one of the oldest in central Europe.
“We mourn the loss of life of members of our university community, express our deepest condolences to all the bereaved, and our thoughts are with all those affected by the tragedy,” Charles College stated in an announcement.
Lives wasted
Vondrasek stated the gunman, beforehand unknown to the police, had numerous legally owned weapons and that swift police motion after a tip-off earlier within the day had prevented even worse carnage.
Police evacuated a School of Arts constructing the place the gunman was resulting from attend a lecture, however have been then referred to as to the college’s bigger fundamental constructing, arriving inside minutes after stories of the taking pictures, Vondrasek stated.
Police had “unconfirmed information from an account on a social network that he was supposedly inspired by one terrorist attack in Russia in the autumn of this year,” Vondrasek informed reporters, describing the assault as a “pre-mediated horrific act”.
Authorities didn’t title the gunman however stated he was a high-achieving pupil with no prior legal file. His loss of life was most likely a suicide, however authorities have been additionally investigating whether or not he might need been killed by police who returned hearth.
Prime Minister Petr Fiala stated the “lone gunman … wasted many lives of mostly young people”.
“There is no justification for this horrendous act,” he added.
United States’ President Joe Biden condemned the “senseless” assault and the White Home stated the US was prepared to supply help.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his “solidarity” with the Czech individuals, as did different European leaders together with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
In a while Thursday, Vondrasek stated that primarily based on a search of his dwelling, the gunman was additionally suspected within the killing of one other man and his 2-month-old daughter in Prague on December 15.
Gun crime is comparatively uncommon within the Czech Republic.
In December 2019, a 42-year-old gunman killed six individuals in a hospital ready room within the jap Czech metropolis of Ostrava earlier than fleeing and fatally taking pictures himself, police stated.
In 2015, a person fatally shot eight individuals after which killed himself at a restaurant in Uhersky Brod.