Prague university shooting: 14 killed, 25 wounded

The suspect, a student, has died, officials said.

December 22, 2023, 10:36 AM

At least 14 people were killed and 25 were injured in a shooting at Charles University in Prague on Thursday, according to Prague's head of police.

The suspect -- a 24-year-old student at the university -- died by suicide, according to police. His body was found at Charles University's faculty of the arts, the Prague head of police said.

PHOTO: People sit on a ledge during a shooting at one of the buildings of Charles University, in Prague, Czech Republic, Dec. 21, 2023.
People sit on a ledge during a shooting at one of the buildings of Charles University, in Prague, Czech Republic, Dec. 21, 2023.
Ivo Havranek via Reuters

The suspected gunman also allegedly killed his father earlier in the day, police said. His body was found at a separate location, police said.

PHOTO: Police officers secure an area after a shooting in downtown Prague, Czech Republic, Dec. 21, 2023.
Police officers secure an area after a shooting in downtown Prague, Czech Republic, Dec. 21, 2023.
Petr David Josek/AP
PHOTO: Armed police are seen on the balcony of the university in central Prague, Dec. 21, 2023.
Armed police are seen on the balcony of the university in central Prague, Dec. 21, 2023.
Michal Cizek/AFP via Getty Images

Authorities described the suspect as "a high-performing student who got inspired by another heinous act elsewhere in the world."

But police said there is no clear motive.

PHOTO: Students are being evacuated by police at the location of the shooting, Dec. 21, 2023, in Prague, Czech Republic.
Students are being evacuated by police at the location of the shooting, Dec. 21, 2023, in Prague, Czech Republic.
Gabriel Kuchta/Getty Images

Police said the suspect was expected to attend class Thursday afternoon in a building about 500 meters away from the shooting scene.

Czech Ministry of Interior Vit Rakusan said a large amount of weapons and ammunition were found at the shooting scene, noting that "police apparently intervened in time to prevent an even more tragic course of today's massacre."

PHOTO: A police officer cordon off an area near the university in central Prague, Dec. 21, 2023.
A police officer cordon off an area near the university in central Prague, Dec. 21, 2023.
Michal Cizek/AFP via Getty Images
PHOTO: An ambulance drives towards the building of Philosophical Faculty of Charles University in downtown Prague, Czech Republic, Dec. 21, 2023.
An ambulance drives towards the building of Philosophical Faculty of Charles University in downtown Prague, Czech Republic, Dec. 21, 2023.
Petr David Josek/AP

As chaos broke out, people fled from Prague's Old Town, running across the iconic Charles Bridge.

Leo Menindez, from Mexico, told ABC News, "We started hearing the police sirens and ambulances from the Charles Bridge. Then we started hearing the shots and then everyone started to run."

PHOTO: People run from the scene of a shooting in downtown Prague, Czech Republic, Dec. 21, 2023.
People run from the scene of a shooting in downtown Prague, Czech Republic, Dec. 21, 2023.
Leo Menindez
PHOTO: People run from the scene of a shooting in downtown Prague, Czech Republic, Dec. 21, 2023.
People run from the scene of a shooting in downtown Prague, Czech Republic, Dec. 21, 2023.
Leo Menindez

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