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Police in Prague are investigating a potential link between the gunman and a series of violent Russian-language Telegram posts after 14 people were killed in a mass shooting.
The gunman, a 24-year-old history student at Charles University, opened fire on the fourth floor of a university building with legally-owned weapons.
Around 25 other students were injured in the attack, which took place after the gunman had killed his own father earlier in the day.
He is also suspected of having murdered two people in a forest last week.
As the shooting began, crowds of people fled the scene, and eight students perched on a ledge high up outdoors, hiding in terror.
The gunman, who was from Hostouň in central Bohemia, was confirmed dead after he suffered “devastating injuries”, said Prague police chief Martin Vondrasek, in a suspected suicide.
A witness reported seeing the killer on a balcony and shooting towards a bridge. The area of Jan Palach Square is close to the old town, and particularly popular with visitors at Christmas.
The police chief said the attack could have been inspired by last year’s terrorist attack in Russia’s Bryansk.
The massacre is the worst mass shooting in the Czech Republic’s history.
Authorities probing links to Russian-language Telegram posts
Czech Republic authorities are probing the potential connection between a series of violent, expletive-laden Russian-language messages posted on Telegram and the perpetrator of the university shooting, as confirmed by the police chief.
One of the messages posted by the user indicated that inspiration for the attack may have been drawn from two previous mass shootings in Russia—one occurring this month at a school in Bryansk near the Ukraine border, and the second in 2021 in Kazan, the capital of the Russian region of Tatarstan.
“I was very inspired by Alina … very much,” a message shared on 10 December said, just three days after a 14-year-old Russian girl, Alina Afanaskina, opened fire on her classmates.
The shooting killed two students. “She certainly did not kill enough. I will try to fix that,” the message said.
“I always wanted to kill. I thought I would be a maniac in the future,” another message from the user said.
Gun laws in Czech Republic
We know from Czech authorities that the gunman yesterday involved in the shooting brought with him a weapons cache before launching the attack.
But what the rules around owning guns in the country?
Police data from 2022 states there were 1 million registered weapons in the country, where is is a constitutional right to bear arms. Citizens are allowed to keep weapnos for self-defence.
To obtain permission to hold a gun, a person must undergo a background and health check. They must also take a multiple choice question quiz.
The applicant must then take part in practical test to show they can shoot a firearm.
Police ‘preventive measures'
Local media outlet Novinky.cz is reporting that police have put in place ‘preventive measures’ following Thursday’s shooting - and that they’ll last until 1 January.
“Starting today, we have adopted nationwide preventative measures in relation to soft targets and schools,” Czech police wrote in a statement on social media.
The police also state that officers had a list of registered cases of people who could be inspired by the gunman - and that they would be following them closely.
They have also aasked that the public report any concerns.
Police have stepped up security measures in the wake of Thursday’s shooting
‘Day 2....’ - full statement from Czech police this morning
Czech police have opened a thread on X to provide updates on today, starting with the continuation of upscaled security measures and an appeal for information on anyone inspired by yesterday’s events.
It reads:“Shooting in the university premises, day 2. For the sake of greater clarity, we will start a new thread with current information. It is still valid that this is the only place where you can find official statements and reactions.
“Thank you for your cooperation and both for the support and the materials important for clarifying the case. Starting today, we have adopted nationwide PREVENTIVE measures in relation to soft targets and schools. We have no information about any specific threat and it is really a prevention - a signal that we are here and we are ready.
“You can also see police officers with long guns, we are currently contacting the operators of selected devices (i.e. soft targets) and introducing them to this measure. The less visible part of our work is the monitoring of social networks.
“Immediately after the shooting, teams of analysts began to elaborate and examine the various posts. The writers of the worst atrocities will have the opportunity to show their heroism in criminal proceedings. Why is it important to remain silent at the right time and not demonize the shooter?
“Since yesterday, we have registered several specific cases of people who were (allegedly) inspired by the terrible act and want to follow it. We respond immediately, if you register something like this in your area, call 158.”
Three foreign nationals among injured
Interior minister Vít Rakušan has said 13 of the 14 victims of yesterday’s shooting have so far been identified. He also revealed that three foreigners were among the list of injured.
Police security measures have been stepped up, and will remain in place until 1 January.
Saturday to be a national day of mourning
The Czech prime minister Petr Fiala has declared that Saturday will be a national day of mourning to honour the shooting victims from Thursday.
Little is still known about them, but the country will come together in remembrance of the 14 who have died at the hands of the gunman.
A woman lights a candle in front of Charles University main building following the shooting
Message of condolence from White House
Yesterday’s events in Prague, a city so popular with tourists around the world, shocked many people.
Among thos offering messages of condolence this morning was White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
She wrote: “The president and the first lady are praying for the families who lost loved ones and everyone else who has been affected by this senseless act of violence.
“On behalf of the United States, we send our condolences and also wish the survivors of this tragic event a speedy recovery.”
The gunman - what do we know
Press coverage of this story all began when the gunman opened fire from the fourth floor of the Charles University in Prague - but it appears a series of deadly events started much earlier.
The 24-year-old history student at the university is believed to have shot his own father earlier in the day. He is also suspected in the killing of another man and his two-month-old daughter on December 15 in Prague.
He is from a town called Hostoun, just west of Prague.
Prague Police Chief Martin Vondrasek said investigators do not suspect a link to any extremist ideology or groups
Mr Vondrasek added that the gunman as an excellent student with no criminal record. It’s not clear of the motive at this stage.
The gunman’s life ended when he killed himself or was shot to death in an exchange of gunfire with officers. There is “nothing to suggest that he had an accomplice”, Mr Vondrasek added.
This picture appears to show the gunman on the fourth floor of the Charles University in Prague
Prague mass shooting: What we know about the Charles University attack
Images and videos on social media show crowds of people fleeing the scene. One chilling picture shows eight students perched on a ledge high up on the faculty in an apparent bid to hide from the gunman.
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2023-12-22 08:16:25Z
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