A gunman has killed 14 people and injured 25 more in a shooting at a university in the Czech Republic. The shooter opened fire at the University of Prague, located in the city’s 9th district, at around 1:30 pm local time on Thursday.
The gunman, who has not been identified, was heavily armed and dressed in black. Police have said that he was a student at the university, that he acted alone, and that he had no known links to any terrorist organizations. The police also said that there is no evidence he had any political motivation in carrying out the attack.
The motive for the shooting is still unclear and police are still looking for clues.
At least 14 people have been killed and 25 others were wounded in the shooting, according to police. The university’s rector, Pavel Variny, said that the dead included three university staff members and 11 students. The wounded were taken to several local hospitals for treatment.
The shooting has shocked the nation and authorities around the world. Prime Minister Andrej Babis said in a statement, “This is a tragedy beyond comparison. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with the Czech Republic.”
The Czech Republic has relatively low levels of gun violence and police have not reported any other mass shootings in recent years. Nevertheless, measures have been introduced to make it harder for people to purchase firearms, including stricter background checks and tougher regulations on gun ownership.
The shooting at the University of Prague is a tragic reminder of the need to strengthen gun control laws around the world. No one should have to experience the fear and terror of being shot at, and it is more important than ever before to ensure that no such massacres take place.
