On Friday morning, tragedy struck the University of Prague when a gunman opened fire and killed 14 people and wounded 25 others. The incident appears to have been sparked by a dispute between two students.
The violence began at around 11:00 AM while students were taking their midday break. According to witnesses, the gunman began shooting a semi-automatic weapon without provocation or warning. He then moved through the courtyard and courtyard buildings, firing indiscriminately.
Police arrived at the scene shortly after the gunman opened fire and killed him in an exchange of gunfire. Police have identified the shooter as a 22 year-old local university student with a history of mental health issues.
The university and police have yet to reveal a possible motive behind the attack, however, eyewitnesses reported that the dispute between two students was what sparked the gunman’s rampage.
At this stage, it is too early to say what prompted the gunman to act, however, Prague Mayor Zdenek Hort has condemned the attack, stating that “there can be no excuse for such a rampage of violence and hatred”.
The students of the University of Prague have been left in shock by the tragedy, with many of them describing the unnerving sound of gunshots echoing through their campus. The Dreamers Association, a student body made up of international students studying at the university, organised a vigil to commemorate the victims of the attack.
The victims of the attack have been identified as students from various countries who were in the process of completing their studies at the college. Meanwhile, the 25 injured students are being cared for at local hospitals and are expected to make a full recovery.
The University of Prague and its students have united in solidarity to grieve for the victims and offer support to the surviving families. The university has organised counselling sessions for students who were witnesses to the tragedy, and has set up a fund to provide financial help for those impacted by the shooting.
This tragedy serves as yet another reminder of the staggering human cost of gun violence, and it is up to all of us to work together to ensure that similar attacks never take place again.
