Multiple people were left dead and dozens more injured after a mass shooting unfolded at a university in the city of Prague.
At least 15 people were reported to be dead and 24 injured after a shooting at Charles University in Prague, according to BBC News. The shooter, a student who was not identified by authorities, opened fire on Jan Palach Square from the roof of the faculty arts building, according to the New York Times.
He later fell from the building and police confirmed that he had been “eliminated,” according to the outlet.
“We always thought that this was a thing that did not concern us,” Bohuslav Svoboda, the mayor of Prague, said. “Now it turns out that, unfortunately, our world is also changing and the problem of the individual shooter is emerging here as well.”
Some students saved themselves by hiding on the windowsill of the University roof. Unfortunately, deaths and numerous injuries have been confirmed. https://t.co/PTvJr2Kp6y pic.twitter.com/10C1msHncm
— RadioGenoa (@RadioGenoa) December 21, 2023
Students were observed hiding on the ledge of a building at the university as emergency services responders arrived on the scene, according to video footage posted to X, formerly known as Twitter.
“I am shocked by the events at the Faculty of Arts of Charles University,” Petr Pavel, the president of the Czech Republic. wrote in a post on X. “I would like to express my deep regret and sincere condolences to the families and relatives of the victims that the shooting claimed. I want to thank the citizens for respecting the instructions of the security forces and providing maximum cooperation.”
As the shooting began, roughly 200 students were evacuated to the Rudolfinum Arts building, according to BBC.
Tom and Rachael Leese, two newlyweds in Prague for their honeymoon, revealed they had been enjoying a drink when a police officer ran by shouting and they asked him to repeat what he had said in English, according to the outlet.
“I asked for it in English and he said there was an active shooter and to stay inside and stay down,” Tom Leese told the outlet, adding the staff was “calm” and “turned all the lights off very quickly.”