PRAGUE (TND) — At least 14 people were shot dead and 25 were injured after a mass shooting at a university in downtown Prague Thursday, according to Prague Police Chief Martin Vondrasek.
Authorities warned that the death toll could rise.
Police reported the 24-year-old gunman's body was found at Charles University's faculty of arts where he was a student and did not publicly name him.
The gunman suffered “devastating injuries” but it wasn't clear if he killed himself or was shot to death in an exchange of gunfire with officers, Vondrasek said, adding that there was "nothing to suggest that he had an accomplice.”
During a news conference, Vondrasek said the gunman started shooting on the fourth floor and it is believed he was inspired by similar massacres that have taken place abroad.
Vondrasek said police believe the gunman killed his father in his hometown of Hostoun, just west of Prague, earlier in the day, and that he had also been planning to kill himself.
Police confirmed the mass shooting is not linked to international terrorism.
No details have been provided about the victims.
Officers originally said they responded to the shooting at a school in Jan Palach Square.
The philosophy department of Charles University, which is located in the square, was evacuated, Prague Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda said.
Some video footage showed people being evacuated from the building and others trying to hide by a wall. People were urged to leave the area and stay inside as police sealed off the square.
Prague Fire Rescue assisted police on site with psychologists and a post-traumatic care team.
“We mourn the loss of life of members of our university community, express our deepest condolences to all the bereaved and our thoughts are with all those affected by the tragedy,” Charles University said in a statement.
Czech president, Petr Pavel said on X that he was "shocked by the events."
"I am shocked by the events at the Faculty of Arts of Charles University," he said. "I would like to express my deep regret and sincere condolences to the families and relatives of the victims that the shooting claimed. I want to thank the citizens for respecting the instructions of the security forces and providing maximum cooperation."
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre sent a message of condolence.
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,” she said. “On behalf of the United States, we send our condolences and also wish the survivors of this tragic event a speedy recovery.”The mayor of Prague, Bohuslav Svoboda, told Czech media "We always thought that this was a thing that did not concern us," according to BBC.
"Now it turns out that, unfortunately, our world is also changing and the problem of the individual shooter is emerging here as well." Svoboda added.
Before Thursday, the nation's worst mass shooting was in 2015, when a gunman opened fire in the southeastern town of Uhersky Brod, killing eight before fatally shooting himself.
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Editor's note: The Associated Press contributed to this article.
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