Prague shooting latest: Bells rung across Czech Republic as nation mourns 14 dead in university attack

Gunman behind Thursday’s mass shooting identified as 24-year-old David Kozak

Moment armed police storm Prague university after shooting captured in bodycam footage

Bells rang across the Czech Republic and the national flags on public buildings were at half-staff as people across the country observed a minute of silence to honor the 14 victims of the worst mass killing in Czech history.

Archbishop Jan Graubner served a mass at the main St Vitus cathedral at the Prague Castle. “We’re all still in a shock in our own ways,” the archbishop said, adding: “We need to clearly condemn what happened but we also need to look into the future.”

“Nobody should be left alone in these tough moments,” Charles University rector Milena Kralickova said in her remarks toward the end of the Mass.

The gunman behind Thursday’s mass shooting has been identified as 24-year-old David Kozak.

The history student opened fire on the fourth floor of Charles University in Prague, killing at least 14 people and injuring more than 20 with legally owned weapons.

He is believed to have killed his father before carrying out the massacre at his university. Authorities on Friday announced that all victims in Thursday’s shooting in Prague have been identified and none of them were foreign citizens.

Key Points

• Proofreader, institution head among 14 victims identified by authorities
• Gunman named as 24-year-old David Kozak
• Gunman killed himself when cornered
• Police investigating potential gunman’s Telegram account for evidence
• Gunman suspected of two forest murders last week

[24 December 2023 01:30 · Maryam Zakir-Hussain]

[24 December 2023 00:30 · Maryam Zakir-Hussain]

[23 December 2023 23:30 · Maryam Zakir-Hussain]

Piles of ammo, barricaded classrooms and shooter suicide: Police reveal how Prague mass shooting unfolded

The gunman who killed 14 people during a rampage at a university in Prague took his own life after a rooftop shootout, police have revealed.

David Kozak, 24, committed suicide by shooting himself as armed police cornered him on the balcony of the Charles University’s Faculty of Arts building after killing more than a dozen people and injuring 25 more with an assault rifle. Lenka Hlavkova, the head of the Institute of Musicology at the university’s Faculty of Arts, is the first of his victims to be named, a mother who leaves behind a young family with two sons.

As Prague mourns its dead and tries to recover from the deadliest mass shooting in the Czech Republic’s history, authorities shared how the tragic events unfolded on Thursday.

[23 December 2023 22:30 · Alexander Butler]

First Prague shooting victim named as more than a dozen people killed in Charles University massacre

The first victim of a mass shooting in central Prague has been named, with 14 people killed by a gunman who opened fire at the prestigious Charles University, Holly Evans reports.

Among those killed was Lenka Hlavkova, the head of the Institute of Musicology at the university’s Faculty of Arts, gunned down on Thursday afternoon by student David Kozak.

“We express our deepest condolences to all the bereaved, especially to the family,” a faculty spokesperson said. “It’s extremely cruel news for all of us. Let’s stay supporting each other,” they said.

[23 December 2023 21:30 · Alexander Butler]

What we know about the Charles University attack that left 14 dead

The popular tourist destination of Prague has been left reeling after a lone gunman opened fire on students at a top university, in what has become the country’s worst mass shooting, Athena Stavrou reports.

Social media videos captured the panic that broke out on Thursday afternoon at Charles University in the city centre, with tourists taking cover and a group of desperate students clinging to a building ledge in a bid to save their lives.

Czech police raced to the scene of the shooting at Jan Palach Square shortly after 3pm, and were confronted with the horrifying reality that 13 people had been killed, with the gunman taking his own life shortly afterwards.

[23 December 2023 20:30 · Alexander Butler]

Watch: Moment armed police storm Prague university

The moment armed police stormed a Prague university building after a mass shooting was captured on bodycam footage from the scene on Thursday, 21 December.

Officers entered the Jan Palach library at Charles University’s Faculty of Arts after a gunman opened fire.

At least 14 people were killed and more than 20 were injured in the Czech Republic’s worst-ever mass shooting. David Kozak, 24, has been named as the gunman.

[23 December 2023 19:30 · Alexander Butler]

Piles of ammunition and barricaded classrooms: Police reveal how Prague mass shooting unfolded

The gunman who killed 14 people during a rampage at a university in Prague took his own life after a rooftop shootout, police have revealed, Alex Ross reports.

David Kozak, 24, took his own life by shooting himself as armed police cornered him on the balcony of the Charles University’s Faculty of Arts building.

He had by then killed more than a dozen people and injured 25 more with an assault rifle. Lenka Hlavkova, the head of the Institute of Musicology at the university’s Faculty of Arts, is the first of his victims to be named, a mother who leaves behind a young family with two sons.

[23 December 2023 18:30 · Alexander Butler]

Watch: Moment Prague police arrest man ‘inspired’ by university shooter

Police in Prague arrested a man who said he was “inspired” by the Prague shooting on Thursday 21 December.

Czech Police said they received a call after the university shooting, with the caller telling police “he was inspired by the shooter,” and that he “wanted to buy a gun and also kill.”

Police managed to identify the man a few hours after his initial call and arrested him, which they posted to X, formerly Twitter. Footage shows armed officers forcibly entering the man’s residence.

Czech police have said that since the shooting, they received several cases of people who are allegedly inspired by the university shooting, and are responding instantly to such cases.

[23 December 2023 17:12 · Alexander Butler]

Prague Airport evacuated over bomb threat

Prague Airport has been evacuted over a bomb threat just days after 24-year-old David Kozak went on a shooting rampage and left 14 dead.

“We have received information about a bomb threat in the transit area of Terminal 2. After the evacuation of the affected area, a pyrotechnic inspection was carried out, which was flawless,” the airport said on X.

“The operation of the entire airport has now been restored under increased security measures.”

[23 December 2023 15:00 · Tara Cobham]

Bells ring across Czech Republic to mourn victims of mass shooting

Bells rang across the Czech Republic on Saturday and flags flew at half mast as the country mourned victims of the country's worst mass shooting that killed 14 at a Prague university on Thursday.

Archbishop Jan Graubner served a mass at the main St. Vitus cathedral at the Prague Castle and the country observed a minute of silence at noon, with people stopping in streets amid heavy rain and snow, and in malls during Christmas shopping.

A 24-year old student went on a shooting rampage at the Charles University's Faculty of Arts in downtown Prague on Thursday, killing students and lecturers before shooting himself as a police squad closed in on him at the top of the school's building.

Relatives, friends and colleagues shared condolences on social networks. More than 25 people were taken to hospitals and 13 suffered serious wounds.

Mourners kept bringing candles and flowers to makeshift memorials outside the Faculty of Arts as well as the Charles University's headquarters nearby in the historic city centre.

"We are from a very small city, near from Prague, from Louny and one of our, not friends, but neighbours in our city died here," said Vlasta Roflik outside the Faculty of Arts. "She was a professor, music professor. It's very sad. Sorry."

Vera Eliaskova said her friend was at the school during the shooting. "She was directly on the fourth floor. Her colleague ran to her door and told her to lock herself and cover ... She covered under the table," she said. "I saw her yesterday and felt sorry for her. She was still shaking."

People attend a mass commemorating the victims of a shooting at one of Charles University's buildings, as they observe a national mourning day, at St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague, Czech Republic, on Saturday (REUTERS)