TRANSCRIPT
At least 14 people have been killed and 25 others injured after a student opened fire at a university in Prague.
Police and emergency vehicles could be seen lining up outside Charles University as those inside were evacuated.
Video circulating shows some people leaping from building ledges to get to safety.
Prague Police Chief Martin Vondrasek says the shooter was 24-year-old student at Charles University and that his father was found dead in a nearby village.
"The police of the Czech Republic received information at 12:20 p.m. that a 24-year-old man from the village of Hostouň, he was supposed to leave for the capital city of Prague, confiding that he wanted to take his own life. At 12:45, we received information that a dead man was found in the same village and we soon found out that he was the father of the suspect, who committed this heinous act today. We found out relatively quickly that he was a student of the Faculty of Philosophy and we found out that in the building of the Faculty of Philosophy in Celetná Street he has a lecture at 2 p.m. That is why we immediately came to Celetná Street, to the building of the Faculty of Philosophy, where we carried out the evacuation of this building, which we finished at 2:22 p.m., and we carried out further search operations for this man."
The government has declared a day of mourning to remember the victims of the country's worst-ever mass shooting.
Interior Minister Vit Rakusan says investigators don't suspect a link to any extremist ideology or groups.
The country's Prime Minister Petr Fiala says there's is no justification for this horrific act.
"Like many of you, I feel deep sadness and disgust in the face of this senseless and brutal violence. At the moment, it appears to have been the act of a lone gunman who is now dead. It is, therefore, not an act of international terrorism or an organised group. I have been assured that the security forces have the situation entirely under control and that there is no further danger to the citizens of the Czech Republic. Nevertheless, I would like to ask everyone to be understanding, to cooperate with the police and emergency services, and respect their instructions. I would also like to thank all those who have participated and are participating in the management of this difficult situation."
Aaron Guensberger owns a restaurant nearby and witnessed the events.
"I was in the restaurant, which is like a few hundred metres from the scene I saw passing during the restaurant. A few guys which looks like like little bit like me. I knew it should be military or police. I run out from the restaurant because I was automatically expecting that it's attack against the Jewish targets. But when I arrived here, the guys from the Special Forces told me that the attack it's happening in in the faculty."
In the United States, the Biden administration has responded.
Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre says the president and first lady are praying for the families who lost loved ones and everyone affected by this act of violence.
"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. On behalf of the United States, we send our condolences and also wish the survivors of this tragic event a speedy recovery. Federal authorities are in touch with Czech authorities as they investigate this incident. And we stand ready to provide additional support as needed."
Police say the man had a huge arsenal of weapons and ammunition and thanked fellow officers for their efforts in preventing further deaths.
His body was found 20 minutes after the shooting began.
He has not been named.
