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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
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Lili Bayer in Brussels

At least 15 dead, including shooter, and dozens injured in Prague university shooting, Czech police say – as it happened

PiS Donald Tusk Poland TVP Europe Kacper Pempel Andrzej Duda Law and Justice
An image appearing to show students hiding from the attacker in Prague.
An image appearing to show students hiding from the attacker in Prague. Photograph: Unknown

Summary of the day

  • A 24-year-old student opened fire at Charles University’s Faculty of Arts building in central Prague.

  • At least 15 people, including the shooter, were killed and 24 injured in the unprecedented shooting, which shocked the Czech Republic.

  • Students and faculty barricaded themselves while waiting to be evacuated.

  • The Czech prime minister, Petr Fiala, said “there is no justification for this horrific act.”

  • The country’s interior minister, Vít Rakušan, said “there is no indication this crime has any connection with international terrorism.”

  • The suspect was inspired by similar shootings abroad, according to Czech police.

  • Leaders across Europe sent their condolences.

Updated

Charles University said mourners can come pay their respects.

“This space is open to all who seek a place for remembrance and mutual support in these difficult moments.”

The British ambassador in Prague has shared contact information for UK nationals in need of assistance.

Czech officials are pleading with the public not to spread unverified information on today’s shooting.

'No justification': Czech prime minister addresses citizens following deadly shooting

Czech prime minister, Petr Fiala, delivered a short address this evening, after at least 15 people were killed in a shooting at a university in central Prague.

In a social media post, he said:

Dear fellow citizens, I turn to you at this very difficult time.

We have all been deeply affected today by the news of the tragic attack on the Faculty of Arts in the centre of Prague.

There is no justification for this horrific act. Like many of you, I feel deep sadness and disgust in the face of this sickening violence.

Once again, I express my sincere condolences to the loved ones of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to all those injured.

Updated

Czech police tells foreign embassies that it is still working to verify the identities of the victims of today’s shooting in Prague.

What we know thus far

Here is what we know thus far about today’s deadly shooting in the Czech Republic:

  • More than 15 people were killed and 24 injured in a shooting in central Prague this afternoon.

  • The incident took place at Charles University’s Faculty of Arts building in Jan Palach Square.

  • Police first got reports of the attack at 14:59 local time.

  • First responders arrived within minutes.

  • Students and faculty were told to lock themselves in rooms, place furniture in front of doors and turn off the lights. They were later evacuated from the building.

  • Czech police said the suspected perpetrator was a 24-year-old Charles University student who was inspired by similar shootings abroad.

  • The police found the body of the suspect’s father in a house in a small town west of Prague earlier in the day, and ordered the evacuation of a university building in the capital where the suspect was scheduled to attend a lecture.

  • Nevertheless, the suspect opened fire in a different building and was then reported to have been found dead at 15:20.

Updated

Here’s a map showing the location of today’s shooting in central Prague.

Police evacuated a university building, but suspect opened fire at a different one, police president says

Czech police president, Martin Vondrášek, said in a briefing that the suspect, a 24 year-old Charles University student, was supposed to leave his house in Hostoun, a small town west of Prague, to go to school.

The police chief outlined how events unfolded:

At 12:40, the police found his father’s lifeless body in the house.

The police then found out the suspect was supposed to have a lecture at the university at 14:00, went there and ordered evacuation of that building.

However, the suspect went to a different university building, where he opened fire.

The police first received information about that attack at 14:59.

First officers arrived at the scene within minutes, a Swat team within 12 minutes.

At 15:20, the police received information that the shooter’s lifeless body was lying on a ledge of the building.

While the shooter appears to have committed suicide, police officers also fired shots, so it’s not clear what was the suspect’s immediate cause of the death.

Ladka Bauerova reported from Prague

Students of Charles University are being evacuated by police at the location of the shooting on December 21, 2023 in Prague, Czech Republic.
Students of Charles University being evacuated by police at the location of the shooting on 21 December 2023 in Prague, Czech Republic. Photograph: Gabriel Kuchta/Getty Images

Updated

Petr Honzejk, deputy editor-in-chief of Czech daily Hospodářské noviny, writes that today’s shooting is a “national tragedy.”

“A mass shooting of this scale is unprecedented in our history,” he added.

Updated

“It was a premediated violent attack,” Czech police president Martin Vondrášek said at a briefing.

Ladka Bauerova reported from Prague

Medics stand next to ambulances parked near the area of the shooting at one of the buildings of Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic, December 21, 2023.
Medics stand next to ambulances parked near the area of the shooting at one of the buildings of Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic, December 21, 2023. Photograph: David W Černý/Reuters

Updated

Here’s an image from Prague earlier today.

An image appearing to show terrified students cowering on a ledge high up in a bid to hide from the gunman after others were told to barricade themselves in classrooms.
An image appearing to show terrified students cowering on a ledge high up in a bid to hide from the gunman after others were told to barricade themselves in classrooms. Photograph: unknown

Updated

No indication of link to international terrorism, minister says

Speaking at the press briefing, Czech interior minister Vít Rakušan said “there is no indication this crime has any connection with international terrorism.”

Ladka Bauerova reported from Prague

Czech Republic’s minister of the interior, Vit Rakušan, speaks to the media after a mass shooting in downtown Prague, Czech Republic, Thursday 21 December 2023.
Czech Republic’s minister of the interior, Vit Rakušan, speaks to the media after a mass shooting in downtown Prague, Czech Republic, Thursday 21 December 2023. Photograph: Petr David Josek/AP

Updated

Shooter was a university student, police says, reporting more than 15 dead

The perpetrator of today’s shooting was a 24 year-old Charles University student, according to Czech police.

The police president, Martin Vondrášek, said at a press briefing that there are more than 15 people dead and 24 injured, but that these may not be final numbers.

The perpetrator was inspired by similar shootings abroad, the police president said.

Ladka Bauerova reported from Prague

Czech Republic’s Minister of the Interior Vit Rakušan, center, and Police officer Martin Vondrášek, left, speak to the media after a mass shooting in downtown Prague, Czech Republic, Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023.
Czech Republic’s Minister of the Interior Vit Rakušan, center, and Police officer Martin Vondrášek, left, speak to the media after a mass shooting in downtown Prague, Czech Republic, Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. Photograph: Petr David Josek/AP

Updated

A newlywed British couple told PA about their experience in Prague today.

Tom Leese and his wife Rachael were having a drink close to where the shooting took place.

Leese said:

A policeman came in and started shouting loudly in what I assume was Czech.

I asked for it in English and he said there was an active shooter and to stay inside and stay down.

The staff were very calm, turned all the lights off very quickly and urged us to stay calm, the restaurant was relatively quiet.

The policeman left urgently and we stood in the corner of the restaurant.

Czech TV, citing the police, confirms there are 11 dead including the shooter.

Broadcasters also confirm 24 are injured, nine seriously.

Ladka Bauerova reported from Prague

Updated

The Czech government will hold an emergency meeting tonight, Czech television reported.

Here are more photos from Prague this evening.

Emergency service vehicles at the scene of a shooting at Charles University in central Prague, 21 December 2023.
Emergency service vehicles at the scene of a shooting at Charles University in central Prague, 21 December 2023. Photograph: Martin Divíšek/EPA
The flashing lights from emergency vehicles are seen along the bank of river Moldau by the Charles University in central Prague, on December 21, 2023.
The flashing lights from emergency vehicles are seen along the bank of river Moldau by the Charles University in central Prague, on December 21, 2023. Photograph: Michal Čížek/AFP/Getty Images

11 seriously injured in Prague shooting, rescue services says in update

The Prague medical rescue services said that “in total, we treated 11 seriously injured, 8 moderately injured and 5 lightly injured.”

“The last patient left the scene in an ambulance at 4:56 p.m. Unfortunately, there were also 10 dead people on the spot plus the attacker,” it added.

Updated

Czech police and the interior minister will hold a press conference at 17:45 local time.

European leaders express condolences

Leaders from across Europe are expressing their shock over the deadly shooting in central Prague.

Updated

Czech police says it has now evacuated the entire university building.

The Czech president, Petr Pavel, said he is “shocked by the events at the Faculty of Arts of Charles University”.

“I would like to express my deep regret and sincere condolences,” he said, thanking citizens for respecting security forces’ instructions.

Updated

Rescue services: 11 dead including attacker, 9 seriously injured in Prague

The Prague medical rescue services has shared new information on the number of dead and injured:

“11 dead including the attacker, 9 seriously injured, 5-6 moderately seriously injured, up to 10 slightly injured. Numbers may still change.”

Updated

Czech police say the evacuation of students is continuing.

Updated

Czech television has shared footage of students being evacuated in Prague.

Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, has expressed her condolences to the Czech people.

Updated

10 dead in Prague: report

Czech television reports that 10 people were killed in today’s shooting in Prague.

There is now no imminent danger, Czech interior minister Vít Rakušan has told ČT24.

The minister asked citizens to follow police instructions and said he would not speculate on the number of dead and wounded at this stage.

Updated

More photos from Prague today:

Several men in dark combat gear stand on the long brick balcony of an old building, seen from a distance
Armed police on the balcony of a university building. Photograph: Michal Čížek/AFP/Getty Images
A police officer in a hi-vis jacket stands blocking half of a road leading to a grand building
A police officer stands guard on a street in downtown Prague. Photograph: Petr David Josek/AP

Updated

A journalist studying in Prague shared a photo of how students barricaded themselves while waiting to be evacuated.

Jan Lipavský, the Czech foreign minister, said he was “shocked by the terrible event at the Faculty of Arts of Charles University”.

“My condolences to the families of the victims. I think of the injured, their loved ones, the students and everyone affected by this appalling act,” he added.

Updated

Bohuslav Svoboda, the mayor of Prague, said he was “completely shocked by what happened at the Faculty of Arts in Prague”.

Updated

Here are some photos from Prague this afternoon, where police say there are several dead and dozens injured following a shooting.

The shooter has been “eliminated”, police say.

Local media reports the shooting took place at a university building.

A long-distance shot of numerous emergency vehicles set up on a street in Prague
Police officers secure an area after the shootings in downtown Prague. Photograph: Petr David Josek/AP
An ambulance with emergency lights on, seen from behind, heading down a tramlined street to a large, impressive building
An ambulance heading towards the Faculty of Philosophy at Charles University. Photograph: Petr David Josek/AP

Updated

Citing the “tragic events at the Faculty of Philosophy”, the Czech prime minister, Petr Fiala, has cancelled plans and is returning to the capital.

Updated

Czech police: Several dead, shooter ‘eliminated’ in Prague

“The shooter has been eliminated,” Czech police have said on social media:

“The entire building is currently being evacuated and there are several dead and dozens of injured.”

Updated

A faculty member of Charles University’s Faculty of Arts in Prague wrote on social media a few minutes ago that people were still locked in classrooms.

The British embassy in Prague has shared information for UK nationals in need of assistance.

The Czech News Agency reports that the shooting incident concerns a university building, and that students are sharing on the internet that people are locked in classrooms and some classrooms are being evacuated, according to Hospodářské noviny.

Updated

Czech police say they are responding to reported shooting in Prague

Czech police say they are responding to a reported shooting in central Prague and that based on initial information, they can confirm that there are dead and injured people at the scene.

We urge citizens not to stay in the immediate vicinity and not to leave the house. The police intervention is still ongoing.

Updated

Czech police is responding to a reported shooting at a university in central Prague, local media is reporting.

Here’s footage of barriers being put up in front of Polish public broadcaster TVP.

EU Council formally agrees on fiscal rules reform

Ambassadors representing EU member states today agreed on a proposed reform of the EU’s economic governance.

In a statement, the Council said:

A main novelty under the reform is the adoption of a differentiated approach towards each member state to take account of the heterogeneity of fiscal positions, public debt and economic challenges across the EU.

Thus, the new framework will allow multi-annual country-specific fiscal trajectories for each member state, while ensuring effective multilateral surveillance and respecting the principle of equal treatment.

It added:

According to the agreement, the Commission would transmit a risk-based and differentiated technical trajectory expressed in terms of multiannual net expenditure to member states where government debt exceeds the 60% of gross domestic product (GDP) reference value or where the government deficit exceeds the 3% of GDP reference value.

This multiannual net expenditure trajectory would be transmitted in time for member states to draw up their national medium-term fiscal-structural plans. The technical trajectory would ensure that by the end of a fiscal adjustment period of four years, government debt is on a plausibly downward trajectory or stays at prudent levels below 60% over the medium-term and the projected government deficit is brought and maintained below the 3% of GDP over the medium-term.

There are reports that some members of the Polish parliament from the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) are at the headquarters of state broadcaster TVP, waiting for a meeting with its new president.

EU approves extension of electric vehicle trade rules with UK

The Council of the EU today approved an extension of current rules of origin for electric vehicles until the end of 2026.

In a statement, the Council said:

Today the Council approved a proposal to give manufacturers of electric vehicles in the EU and the UK more time to comply with the local content requirements for electric vehicles and batteries under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

It adopted a decision which will allow the EU to agree with the UK on the extension of the current rules of origin for electric vehicles and batteries until 31 December 2026.

This will prevent the entry into force of more stringent rules from 1 January 2024 and the application of a 10% tariff on goods traded between the EU and the UK which do not meet those requirements.

Updated

Amid tensions about Poland’s state media, members of parliament from the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) went to the headquarters of the Polish Press Agency.

EU disburses last Ukraine funding tranche, as pressure grows for fresh money

Brussels today disbursed €1.5bn for Ukraine – the last past of a 18 billion package.

Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, said: “We must find an agreement to keep providing Ukraine with the support it needs to recover, rebuild and reform.”

EU leaders attempted last week to find an agreement on a new, multiyear €50bn package for Kyiv, but Hungary’s Viktor Orbán blocked a deal.

The commission is now looking at technical solution that could possibly allow 26 member states to go ahead and fund Ukraine on their own, while efforts continue to bring Hungary on board.

Leaders will meet again in February.

Updated

Italy’s ruling party drafts law to ‘safeguard’ school nativity scenes

Italy’s ruling far-right party has identified a new battleground in its war to protect the country’s “cultural roots”: the school nativity scene.

A draft law proposed on Wednesday by the Brothers of Italy party (FdI) seeks to clamp down on schools that hold general celebrations in the holiday season thereby acknowledging the growing diversity of Italy’s classrooms.

“For some years now we have witnessed unacceptable and embarrassing decisions by some schools that ban nativity scenes or modify the deep essence of Christmas by transforming it into improbable winter festivities so as not to offend believers of other religions,” said Lavinia Mennuni, an FdI senator and primary signatory of the proposed bill.

According to the party, which is led by the prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, the move “is absolutely essential to safeguard and protect [Italy’s] cultural roots, which are exemplified by the nativity scene”. If passed the new legislation would mean headteachers who continued to remove nativity scenes would face disciplinary measures.

The proposal was immediately attacked by opposition parties, who described it as yet another attempt by Meloni’s party to exploit religion for political purposes.

“Punctual as a Swiss clock, during Christmas, the rightwing proposals to safeguard Italian Christian traditions return,” said Riccardo Magi, secretary of the leftwing party More Europe (Più Europa).

Alluding to the government’s anti-immigrant agenda, Magi said: “[This is] the same right wing, led by Giorgia Meloni, for whom today, the holy family fleeing from persecution would probably end up in a detention centre, maybe in Albania, waiting to find out from some judge in Italy whether or not they are worthy of setting foot on Italian territory.”

Read the full story here.

As in previous years, a number of independent outlets were denied accreditation for Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán’s annual international press conference – despite numerous empty seats in the audience.

A group of Hungarian journalists are kept out after being denied access to Viktor Orbán’s annual press conference in Budapest.
A group of Hungarian journalists are kept out after being denied access to Viktor Orbán’s annual press conference in Budapest. Photograph: Ferenc Isza/AFP/Getty Images

Updated

Hungary doesn't want to link funds for Ukraine to Hungarian EU funding issue, Orbán says

Speaking at an international press conference in Budapest today, with a number of independent media outlets excluded from attending, the Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, outlined his current thinking on EU funding for Ukraine.

  • If we want to give money to Ukraine, it shouldn’t be for several years, because we don’t know what happens in five years.

  • The amount should be determined based on how much support the US is providing.

  • If money is provided, it shouldn’t be channeled through the EU budget.

  • Hungary doesn’t want to take on debt with other EU countries.

  • If other EU countries want to amend the bloc’s long-term budget and ask for different things, Hungary would as well.

  • Hungary doesn’t want to connect funds for Ukraine with questions about Hungarian money.

At a summit last week, the Hungarian prime minister blocked an EU leaders’ decision on providing Ukraine a multiyear 50 billion euro funding package.

Leaders will meet again at the beginning of February to discuss aid to Kyiv.

Billions in EU funds earmarked for Hungary are currently frozen due to different concerns related to the rule of law. Earlier this month, the European Commission moved to unfreeze about 10 billion euros – roughly a third of the total amount suspended.

The Hungarian government had hinted earlier that approving fresh aid to Kyiv could be contingent in its view on the unfreezing of funds.

Viktor Orbán speaks at a lectern with Hungarian flags in the background.
Viktor Orbán holds his annual press conference in the Carmelita monastery, the office of the Hungarian premier, in Budapest. Photograph: Attila Kisbenedek/AFP/Getty Images

Updated

In a judgment published today, the court of justice of the EU said an adjudicating panel of the Polish supreme court “does not constitute an independent and impartial tribunal previously established by law.”

Updated

Asked about developments with Polish state media, the Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán said he did notwant to intervene in Polish internal affairs.

But, he said, more broadly there are “strange things” in the western democracy world.

Something is happening that is not in order, he noted.

Updated

'Anarchy': Polish president criticises new government over media moves

Andrzej Duda, Poland’s president, spoke out this morning against the new Polish government’s moves to change state media.

This week, the country’s new culture minister, Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz, announced that the chairs and boards of state television, news and radio had all been removed, prompting lawmakers from the conservative Law and Justice party to protest outside the headquarters of state broadcaster TVP.

The TVP 24-hour news service’s regular broadcast was suspended on Wednesday.

Speaking on private broadcaster Radio Zet this morning, Duda said the new government’s measures violated the constitution by skipping the necessary parliamentary procedures, Reuters reported.

“These are completely illegal actions,” the Polish president said. “This is anarchy.”

People stand outside the Polish public television TVP building.
People stand outside the Polish public television TVP building. Photograph: Kacper Pempel/Reuters

Updated

Poland’s new government sacks state TV, radio and news bosses

The new Polish government has gutted the top management of public television, making good on a campaign promise to reform a broadcaster that functioned as a mouthpiece of its rightwing populist predecessor, but also prompting criticism of their methods from some quarters.

The government led by the prime minister, Donald Tusk, was sworn into office last Wednesday. It has promised to launch an ambitious programme to reverse the damage done to rule of law in the country during eight years of government by the nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party.

Under PiS, state media were accused of promoting the party’s policies and launched vicious, personal attacks on opposition figures, and Tusk in particular. “We will need exactly 24 hours to turn the PiS TV back into public TV. Take my word for it,” Tusk said during a campaign rally in early October.

In the end, it has taken his government a week. On Tuesday, the new parliament adopted a resolution calling for the restoration of “impartiality and reliability of the public media”. After the resolution, the new culture minister, Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz, announced that the chairs and boards of state television, news and radio had all been removed.

The vote prompted PiS lawmakers to stage a protest outside the headquarters of TVP, the state broadcaster. “There is no democracy without media pluralism or strong anti-government media, and in Poland these are the public media,” the PiS leader, Jarosław Kaczyński, told reporters at the entrance of the state television building on Tuesday evening, promising that the protest would go on indefinitely.

The TVP 24-hour news service’s regular broadcast was suspended on Wednesday, with only the television logo visible on TV screens.

Read the full story here.

Police stand outside the Polish public television TVP building.
Police stand outside the Polish public television TVP building. Photograph: Kacper Pempel/Reuters

Updated

Welcome to the blog

Good morning and welcome back to the Europe blog.

Send comments and tips to lili.bayer@theguardian.com.

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