Prague college capturing: Charles University gunman linked to forest murders final week | EUROtoday

Police say they’re engaged on the speculation that the gunman who shot useless 14 folks at a college in Prague was additionally chargeable for the deaths of two folks final week in a forest.

Czech media reported a 32-year-old man and his two-month-old daughter have been killed within the Klanovicky forest close to Prague.

Officers imagine the 24-year-old gunman, who has no felony historical past, selected his victims at random.

Police sealed off a part of Prague‘s city centre on Thursday, 21 December, after several people were killed and injured in a shooting according to authorities.

“The shooter has been eliminated. The entire building is currently being evacuated and there are several dead and dozens of injured”, Czech police said on social media.

Footage showed police cars surrounding Jan Palach Square in the city centre, close to the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design.

An email to staff at the Faculty of Arts of Charles University, seen by Reuters, had told staff to “stay put” and said a shooter was in one of its buildings.

US president Joe Biden additionally condemned the capturing, describing it as a “senseless” and mentioned American authorities are in contact with Czech regulation enforcement.

“My heart is with those who lost their lives in today’s senseless shooting in Prague, those injured, and the Czech people,” he mentioned on X.

“Our authorities are in touch with Czech law enforcement, and we stand ready to offer additional support if needed.”

Shocking video footage exhibits round seven folks huddled collectively and crouched down in an obvious try to cover from the shooter.

The gunman killed 10 folks and injured 30 others earlier than he was “eliminated” by police, Czech emergency companies reported. Nine persons are understood to be in a critical situation.

Petr Nedoma, director of the Rudolfinum Gallery at a live performance corridor throughout Palach Square, advised Czech TV he noticed the shooter.

Lydia Patrick has the main points.

European leaders are denouncing the violence and expressing their shock on the capturing that claimed the lives of 14 folks at a college in Prague. They are extending their condolences to the victims and people who have been injured.

Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni mentioned “we reiterate our strongest condemnation of all forms of violence, fanaticism and terrorism”.

“I express my deepest condolences to the families of the victims of the shooting in Prague and my closeness to the injured, to the Prime Minister @P_Fiala and to the entire population of the Czech Republic,” she mentioned on X.

Austrian president Alexander Van der Bellen mentioned he’s “deeply shocked by the cruel attack” on the college in Prague and his ideas are with the households of the victims within the “painful hours”.

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed “strong emotion” upon studying in regards to the capturing at Charles University.

“I express my solidarity with the victims, the injured and their loved ones, as well as with the Czech people and authorities,” he mentioned.

Romanian president Klaus Iohannis: “Appalled by the shooting in #Prague today, that claimed so many innocent lives.”

Images and movies on social media present crowds of individuals fleeing the scene. One chilling image exhibits eight college students perched on a ledge excessive up on the school in an obvious bid to cover from the gunman.

Here are the important thing particulars:

The Czech Republic has declared a day of mourning on Saturday to recollect those that misplaced their lives within the Prague capturing, officers introduced at a joint information convention Thursday.

“I want to express my deep sadness and also helpless anger over the loss of so many young lives,” Czech president Petr Pavel mentioned.

He added that the capturing is “the most tragic incident in the history of the Czech Republic.”

Throughout the day of mourning, flags can be lowered to half-staff, and a nationwide minute of silence can be noticed.

Czech prime minister Petr Fiala additionally talked about that bells throughout the nation will toll in remembrance of the victims of the assault.

Fourteen folks have been killed and greater than 20 injured within the Czech Republic’s worst ever mass capturing, at a college in Prague.

Police imagine the 24-year-old gunman killed his father in his residence city simply west of Prague, earlier within the day, and that he had additionally been planning to kill himself. An arrest warrant had been issued for the son.

Detectives are additionally engaged on the speculation that the killer was chargeable for the deaths of two folks final week within the Klanovicky forest close to Prague. They imagine he selected his victims at random.

Jane Dalton and Alex Ross report.

Police haven’t launched the identities of the 14 folks shot at a Prague college on Thursday.

It’s unlikely any US residents have been harmed within the capturing, nevertheless, in line with the State Department.

It advised CBS News on Thursday it was “not aware of any U.S. citizens injured or killed at this time.”

Leaders throughout the globe are expressing their condolences after a horrific mass capturing in Prague on Thursday.

“The Secretary-General is shocked and saddened by today’s mass shooting at the Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic,” in line with an announcement from the UN Secretary-General. “He expresses his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wishes those injured a speedy and full recovery.”

Flags additionally flew at half-staff on the Czech embassy in Washington.