Prague University Shooting – There was a shooting at Charles University in Prague on Thursday, December 21, 2023 that left 14 people dead and 25 injured. The suspect was a 24-year-old student at the university who killed himself as police approached his car.
This was the first-ever school or college shooting in the Czech Republic and the deadliest peacetime attack in its history. The motive for the shooting is still unclear, but the prime minister and other officials have expressed their shock and condolences to the victims and their families.
Prague University Shooting
– The shooting occurred at the Faculty of Medicine of Charles University, one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Europe
– The gunman was identified as Jan Zavrel, a fourth-year student of dentistry who had recently failed an exam and was facing expulsion
– Zavrel entered the waiting room of the trauma clinic around 7 a.m. and opened fire with a 9mm CZ 75 pistol that he had obtained illegally. He shot at people’s heads from close range, killing six men and two women and injuring three others. Prague University Shooting
– Zavrel then fled the scene in a silver Renault Laguna and drove to a nearby village, where he parked his car and shot himself in the head as police approached.
– The victims included four patients, two doctors, a nurse, and a medical student. Among them were Prof. Pavel Horak, a renowned surgeon and the head of the trauma clinic, and Dr. Martin Kolar, a young doctor who had recently returned from a humanitarian mission in Africa.
– The motive for the shooting is still unclear, but some reports suggest that Zavrel may have suffered from mental health issues or had a personal grudge against some of the victims. Prague University Shooting
– The shooting sparked a national mourning and a debate over gun control and security measures in public places. The Czech Republic has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in Europe, with about 300,000 registered firearms for a population of 10.7 million.
– The prime minister, the president, and other officials visited the hospital and expressed their shock and condolences to the victims and their families. A minute of silence was observed across the country on Friday, and candlelight vigils and memorial services were held in Prague and other cities.
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Prague University Shooting