Prague shooting: Victims identified as Czechs mourn 14 dead in university attack

All 14 victims in Prague’s college taking pictures have been recognized, the Czech authorities introduced on Friday.

Not one of the victims have been international residents, inside minister Vit Rakusan informed reporters. Czech Police have already contacted the households of the deceased and the injured, the minister added.

“Many of the injured are in secure situation, with one particular person at present in severe situation.”Lenka Hlávková, the pinnacle of the Charles College’s Institute of Music Sciences, was named as one of many victims of the assault.

Nationwide newspaper Lidovky recognized its proofreader and scholar, Lucie Špindlerová, as one of many individuals killed within the assault.

Two residents from the United Arab Emirates and one from the Netherlands have been among the many two dozen individuals who sustained accidents throughout the mass taking pictures in Prague, inside minister Vit Rakusan stated.

At the least 14 individuals have been killed in a taking pictures rampage after a 24-year-old gunman opened fireplace on the Charles College in Prague on Thursday afternoon.

The shooter, recognized as David Kozak, turned the gun to himself after being cornered by town police.

The gunman behind the Czech Republic’s worst-ever mass taking pictures has been recognized as 24-year-old David Kozak.

He lived in a village, situated 20km outdoors Prague, and was a scholar of historical past on the college, authorities stated on Friday.

He was an “glorious scholar”, Prague police chief Martin Vondrasek stated, including that the scholar legally owned a number of weapons and was closely armed throughout the incident.

Bodycam footage launched by Czech Police reveals officers turning up and getting into the college constructing earlier than scaling the steps searching for the suspect.

Officers are then seen looking out lecture rooms earlier than carrying injured victims on a stretcher outdoors.

You may watch it in full beneath. A warning, the footage could also be be distressing to look at.

The director of Prague Police informed a press convention on Friday that there was “piles of ammunition” within the corridors of the Charles College College of Arts constructing.

He was responding to criticisim from individuals on social media who say police cornered gunman David Kozak too rapidly.

He defended his officers, saying that they had a difficult job to first find the shooter, whereas protesting members of the general public.

He stated: “I can say that I imagine the quick response and arrival of law enforcement officials on the scene prevented additional bloodshed and additional victims.

“What I noticed contained in the corridors, which have been piles of ammunition, unbelievable portions, if that particular person hadn’t been cornered in time he would possibly, or may not of have continued.

“Given what I’ve seen and what he was ready for I really want to thank my individuals for skilled response.”

The identification of the gunman has now been revealed to be scholar David Kozák, who had reportedly been finding out for a masters diploma in world historical past with a particular deal with the historical past of Poland.

Native media have reported that Kozák initially graduated with a bachelor’s diploma in historical past and was described as a superb scholar with no earlier felony convictions.

His father’s physique had been discovered earlier within the day in his hometown of Hostoun. Police have been already trying to find Kozák on the time of the mass taking pictures in relation to a different loss of life within the village of Kladensko.

He’s suspected of being answerable for the murders of a father and his four-month-old child daughter, who have been killed in a forest on 15 December.

At a press convention, police spokesperson Martin Vondráček stated: “We’re working very critically with the truth that the attacker from the College of Philosophy can also be answerable for the 2 victims from the tip of final week in Klanovicky les.”

12.26pm – Police obtained a name from somebody saying her good friend had despatched her a suicidal textual content message, and was not responding to calls

12.40pm – Report of physique discovered within the village of Hostoun. Search of residence finds weapons.

12.42pm – Report of suspect who stated he was going to kill himself was on his approach to Prague

13.15pm – Nationwide search is asserted for suspect.

13.27pm – Request for police to hold out search of College of Arts at Charles College

13.49pm – Extra info obtained that the suspect is within the College of Arts constructing

14.59pm – The taking pictures begins

The primary sufferer of the mass taking pictures yesterday was named on Friday as Lenka Hlávková.

The Institute of Music Science at Charles College’s philosophy division posted a message of “deep remorse” over her loss of life on its Fb web page.

It learn: “On the premise of verified info from the household and with their permission, we’re saying that our colleague and director of the Institute of Musicology of the College of Music of the College of Music, Lenka Hlávková didn’t survive yesterday’s assault.

“We specific our deepest condolences to all of the bereaved, initially to the household. That is extraordinarily merciless information for all of us. Let’s keep in help of one another.”

No different victims have been named but.

Jiri Forman, a Czech journalist, witnessed yesterday’s assault at Charles College.

The reporter bravely shouted on the gunman from Jan Palach Sq. in an try to cease him from taking pictures at college students and filmed the incident.

“Hey, you f****r, right here I’m, shoot right here!” He screamed.

Requested by an officer what was he doing, Forman is heard within the footage shouting: “In order that he doesn’t shoot on the individuals! What do you suppose I’m am I doing, man? There are individuals there!”

His actions have received him plaudits in Czech media, however Forman performed down strategies he was a hero.

“The place I stood it was completely protected, no person was there and I knew I might duck behind an impediment,” he informed Reuters on Friday.

“And if he shoots in my route, he received’t have the individuals fleeing, they are going to have an opportunity to succeed in cowl. I screamed at him and he began taking pictures in my route.”

“The policeman I imagine shot thrice on the attacker. I believe this threw him off stability. Then he additionally hears that police are getting shut from inside, so he shot himself,” Mr Forman stated.

He added: “I did issues I believed have been proper, and sadly, the unhappy heroes are the kin who misplaced their closest ones at this Christmas time, and policemen and rescue providers.”