15 dead in Czech Republic's worst shooting in decades; here's what we know so far

A devastating shooting at Prague's Charles University has left a community reeling, with at least 15 lives lost and numerous others injured. This tragic event, marked as one of Czech Republic's most severe shootings in recent memory, unfolded at the Faculty of Arts building in Jan Palach Square.

Here's a breakdown of the known details:

The assailant, identified as 24-year-old David K., was a student at Charles University's Faculty of Arts. Before the incident, he had left his village, Houstoun, following the fatal shooting of his father. David K. had been enrolled in the Institute of World History at the university's arts faculty and was scheduled to attend a lecture elsewhere on the day of the shooting.


The police revealed that the assailant, armed with a firearm, had initially been sought in a different university building on Celetna Street, near Prague's Old Town Square. However, he diverted to the main arts faculty building, prompting questions about his motives.

During the chaos, an email alert instructed the Faculty of Arts staff to secure themselves in offices, barricading doors and taking safety precautions as the situation unfolded.

In response, the police swiftly evacuated the area, deployed ambulance units to tend to the injured, and urged civilians to seek shelter indoors. Interior Minister Vit Rakusan assured the public that there was no indication linking the crime to international terrorism, emphasizing compliance with police directives.

While gun-related crimes are rare in the Czech Republic, this tragic incident echoes past occurrences, including the 2019 hospital shooting in Ostrava and the 2015 restaurant shooting in Uhersky Brod.

The assailant, David Kozak, emerged as a student of Charles University and reportedly drew inspiration from a recent school shooting in Russia. His disturbing messages on social media platforms and alleged ties to a prior shooting in Russia have surfaced in the aftermath.

Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda expressed shock and dismay, emphasizing the unexpectedness of such an incident in the city and acknowledging the sobering reality of evolving threats, even in traditionally peaceful locations.