The shooter, now believed deceased, opened fire in a university building in the Czech capital.
A mass shooting in downtown Prague has left more than 14 people dead and at least 25 injured.
The individual responsible for the shooting is dead, according to Czech police.
Authorities have not named or provided specific details about the victims, but said the incident appears to have no link to international terrorism.
They are now working to find a motive behind what is the country’s worst mass shooting.
Czech President Petr Pavel said the killings should not be politicised or fuel misinformation.
He called for national unity, revealing his “helpless anger” towards the incident.
A national day of morning is planned for Saturday.
Police say the gunman was a 24-year-old student in the faculty of arts at Charles University, where the shooting took place.
The shooting began at around 15:00 local time on Thursday.
The gunman reportedly opened fire in the university’s corridors and classrooms, seemingly killing people at random.
Police officers sealed off the area and advised people to leave the surrounding streets and stay indoors while the incident unfolded.
Prague Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda confirmed the university’s philosophy department had been evacuated.
Images shared on social media said to depict the shooter show a man in black perched on a balcony and holding a rifle with a scope. One student shared an image of the door of his classroom barricaded to keep the shooter out.
Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan assured the public that no additional assailant was present at the scene and urged cooperation with the ongoing police investigation.
The square remains cordoned off, and the police have advised citizens to follow safety measures.
Prague’s rescue service confirmed a total of 14 casualties, including the shooter, with around 25 others sustaining various injuries, including nine individuals in critical condition.
Pavel Nedoma, the director of the Rudolfinum Gallery also situated in the square, reported witnessing the assailant firing shots from a window towards the nearby Manes bridge spanning the Vltava River.
In response to the incident, Prime Minister Petr Fiala promptly cancelled his scheduled events and is en route to Prague, expressing his commitment to addressing the aftermath of this regrettable occurrence.
ADVERTISEMENTCentral Bohemian police officers have announced a search for a young man in connection with the violent death of another man in the region, according to information from Czech news agency, ČTK.
They haven’t ruled out that this may have a connection with today’s shooting in Prague.
David Turner is a globe-trotting journalist who brings a global perspective to our readers. With a commitment to shedding light on international events, he explores complex geopolitical issues, offering a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
