As the sickening sound of gunfire echoed through a Prague university this afternoon, terrified students and professors were forced to take extreme measures to survive.
At least 15 people were killed and 24 injured in the devastating mass shooting carried out by a lone gunman at Charles University’s Faculty of Arts – where the 24-year-old suspect was himself a student – at around 3pm this afternoon.
Dramatic footage of the attack shows desperate students and teachers clinging to narrow ledges more than 40 feet (12 meters) high, barricading themselves in classrooms and building barricades of furniture as gunfire continues to be heard.
The police in Prague confirmed this afternoon that the shooter committed suicide, while his father was also found dead. A terrifying image shared in local media allegedly shows the man dressed in black standing on the roof of a faculty building pointing a gun at people below.
After the attack, students began sharing insights about how they tried to survive.
An extraordinary image shows a group of nine students huddled together on a ledge, clinging for dear life in an attempt to hide from the gunman, who is believed to have been picking off his victims one by one.
This extraordinary photo shows terrified students crouching on a ledge high up in a faculty trying to hide from the gunman
Another student described how students barricaded themselves in classrooms with tables and chairs
A lone student is seen calling for help while balancing on a ledge. Then he tilts around the corner
A lone student was also seen risking his life by walking over a narrow ledge and shouting for help as dozens of police cars arrived at the scene. Then you see a second student around the corner jumping through the window back into the building.
Another photo shows students locking themselves in a classroom and using various chairs and tables to prevent the gunman from entering.
The student who posted the photo wrote: “I’m currently stuck in my classroom in Prague.” The shooter is dead, but we’re waiting for an evacuation. I pray that I make it out alive. Locked the door before the shooter tried to open it. Damn hell.”
Footage from one of the classrooms shows a large group of students sitting in complete silence. The only sound in the video is a single gunshot.
Other stunning images show horrified crowds of tourists and locals running across the famous Charles Bridge – one of Europe’s most popular tourist attractions – after the gunman opened fire in broad daylight in a sickening attack.
Large groups of people had to shuffle off the steps of the bridge to find out what was going on.
Elsewhere, people ran for their lives with their hands up as armed police arrived on the scene and stopped the attack.
And the photo shows a group of students hiding in a computer lab, relying on information from their phones to get the latest updates.
The student who posted the photo wrote: “I’m fine. I was in the library at the time of the shooting. They sent us to the back of the computer room where there are no windows. Word has now passed that the shooter is dead. “We call everyone and tell family and friends that we are okay.”
Images circulating online and in Czech media show the shooter on the roof of the university building
Footage from that classroom shows students sitting in silence before a single gunshot is heard
A student, Deda Mrazek, said she was in the university library when the gunman began shooting at his victims. Deda shared a photo of students hiding in the back of a computer lab: “I’m fine.” “I was in the library at the time of the shooting.”
People are seen running out of a building in Prague with their arms raised as police arrive at the scene
Dramatic video shows horrified crowds of tourists and locals running across the famous Charles Bridge – one of Europe’s most popular tourist attractions – after hearing the sickening sound of gunfire in the city.
A man can be seen sprinting through the center of Prague, while a group of students hide in the outskirts
Petr Nedoma, director of the Rudolfinum gallery in a concert hall across from Palach Square, told Czech television he had seen the gunman.
“I saw a young man in the gallery who had a weapon in his hand, similar to an automatic weapon, and fired at the Manes Bridge. “I repeatedly, with a few interruptions, saw him shoot, put his hands up and throw the gun into the street, it was lying there on the crossroad,” he said.
Police cordoned off the square and the area next to the building, which is in a busy part of the city where a popular street for tourists leads to Old Town Square.
During a live broadcast on Czech television, several ambulances and police cars with flashing lights could be seen driving past the building with sirens blaring.
A witness told news website iDnes.cz that they got off at the tram stop near the school and “suddenly heard a shooting”.
Klara, a student, told the news website that she was among the people evacuated from the building by police.
“It was really scary, there were police officers everywhere shouting at us with machine guns and telling us to run outside,” she said.
An email to staff and students said the shooter was in one of the buildings.
“Do not go anywhere when in the offices, lock them and put furniture in front of the door, turn off the lights,” the email said.
A newly married British couple also described the moment a police officer ordered them to lie down during the shooting in central Prague.
Tom Leese, 34, a video producer, and his wife Rachael, 31, an account director, who are on their honeymoon in the country, had a drink at the Slivovitz Museum, near where the shooting took place.
Armed police were seen on the balcony of the university in central Prague on Thursday
Doctors wait in front of the Faculty of Arts at Charles University in the center of Prague on Thursday
Rescue workers at the scene of a shooting at the Charles University in central Prague on Thursday afternoon
A police officer guards the area after Thursday’s shooting in one of the buildings at Charles University in Prague
Mr Leese said: “A police officer came in and started shouting loudly in Czech.”
“I asked in English and he said there was an active shooter and I should stay inside and lie down.
“The staff were very calm, turned off all the lights very quickly and asked us to be quiet, the restaurant was relatively quiet.” “The police officer quickly left and we stood in the corner of the restaurant.”
The couple, from Merstham in Surrey, were held in the museum for more than an hour as they heard sirens outside.
Mr Leese added: “Rachael is still in shock. We were supposed to have dinner tonight at the restaurant near the building and pop in earlier for a drink, but we’re over the bridge instead.
“Because everyone else was so quiet, it didn’t seem real to me.” We have contacted all our families to let them know we are safe.
“Of course we can’t wait to go home now.”
The Prague emergency service confirmed that eleven people died, including the killer. About 30 other people suffered various injuries, including nine serious injuries.
Pavel Nedoma, the director of the Rudolfinum gallery, which is also located on the square, told Czech public television that he saw a person shoot from a window at the nearby Manes Bridge over the Vltava.
Prime Minister Petr Fiala canceled his planned events and traveled to Prague.
Czech President Petr Pavel said he was “shocked” by the shooting, adding: “I would like to express my deep regret and sincere condolences to the families and relatives of the shooting victims.”
Source link
Elizabeth Cabrera is an author and journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a talent for staying up-to-date on the latest news and trends, Elizabeth is dedicated to delivering informative and engaging articles that keep readers informed on the latest developments.
