Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • All Woman
  • Career & Education
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Classifieds
  • Design Week
3 foreign nationals are among the wounded after a Prague university shooting in which 14 died
A policeman guards the area outside the building of Philosophical Faculty of Charles University Prague, Czech Republic, Friday, December 22, 2023. A lone gunman opened fire at a university on Thursday, killing more than a dozen people and injuring scores of people. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Latest News
December 22, 2023

3 foreign nationals are among the wounded after a Prague university shooting in which 14 died

PRAGUE (AP) — Three foreign nationals were among the 25 people wounded when a student opened fire at a university in the Czech capital, Prague, shooting dead 14 people before killing himself, authorities said Friday. It was the worst mass shooting in Czech history.

Interior Minister Vit Rakusan said police in Prague worked overnight and all the 14 who died in Thursday’s attack have been identified. The Institute of Music Sciences confirmed that its head, Lenka Hlávková, was among the dead.

The Czech Foreign Ministry confirmed that three of those wounded were foreigners — two from United Arab Emirates and one from the Netherlands.

The bloodshed took place at the Faculty of Arts of Charles University, where the 24-year-old shooter was a student, Prague Police Chief Martin Vondrasek said. Petr Matejcek, the director of the police regional headquarters in Prague said the gunman killed himself on the balcony of the university building when police officers approached him. The gunman’s name has not been released.

Authorities warned that the death toll could rise.

Early Friday, with the scene of the shooting still sealed off by the police, people could be seen lighting candles to mourn the victims at an impromptu vigil by the university headquarters.

Police said Friday they have boosted security at schools and other “soft targets” — usually public facilities that are difficult to secure — in a preventive measure. University rectors also said they would work with police experts on more preventive measures to increase security around campus.

Police have released no details about the dead and wounded or a possible motive for the shooting at the building. Rakusan said Thursday that investigators didn’t suspect a link to any extremist ideology or groups. Officials said they believed the gunman acted alone.

Vondrasek, the police chief, said they believe the man killed his father earlier on Thursday in his hometown of Hostoun, just west of Prague, and that he had also been planning to kill himself. He also said the gunman was suspected of killing a man and his 2-month-old daughter on December 15, in Prague.

Police said the shooter had legally owned several guns and that he was heavily armed during the attack.

Leaders from many countries, including the United States, and the UN Secretary-General conveyed their condolences. The Czech government declared Saturday a national day of mourning to honor the victims.

Previously, the nation’s worst mass shooting was in 2015, when a gunman opened fire in the southeastern town of Uhersky Brod, killing eight before fatally shooting himself.

The building where the shooting took place is located near the Vltava River in Jan Palach Square, a busy tourist area in Prague’s Old Town. It is just a few minutes’ walk from the picturesque Old Town Square, a major tourist attraction where a popular Christmas market attracts thousands of visitors.

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

79-y-o pedestrian dies in Manchester crash
Latest News, News
79-y-o pedestrian dies in Manchester crash
February 28, 2026
MANCHESTER, Jamaica — A pedestrian died as a result of injuries he sustained after he was struck by a minibus on the Prospect main road in Manchester ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Grassroots producer Phil Pratt dies at 82
Entertainment, Latest News
Grassroots producer Phil Pratt dies at 82
BY HOWARD CAMPBELL Observer senior writer 
February 28, 2026
Phil Pratt, one of the grassroots producers whose hit songs rocked the sound systems without mainstream airplay, died in London on February 25. His so...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Winston Jones High marks Jamaica Day with youth talent showcase and police partnership
Latest News, News
Winston Jones High marks Jamaica Day with youth talent showcase and police partnership
February 28, 2026
MANCHESTER, Jamaica — Winston Jones High School observed its annual Jamaica Day celebration on Friday, with activities highlighting national culture, ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Mexico sends more aid to Cuba
International News, Latest News
Mexico sends more aid to Cuba
February 28, 2026
HAVANA, Cuba (AFP) — Two Mexican navy vessels carrying almost 1,200 tons of humanitarian aid arrived in Cuba on Saturday in the second such shipment i...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
International News, Latest News
WATCH: US, Israel launch major attack on Iran
Trump says aim is to destroy Iran's military, topple government
February 28, 2026
WEST PALM BEACH, United States (AFP) -- US President Donald Trump announced a major attack against Iran on Saturday, vowing to "annihilate" the countr...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Fabrienne Foster sets North Texas record to win women’s weight throw
Latest News, Sports
Fabrienne Foster sets North Texas record to win women’s weight throw
February 27, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica—Fabrienne Foster set a new personal best and North Texas school record of 19.57 m to win the women’s weight throw at the American Co...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Jahmarie Nolan’s late hat- trick carries Jamaica to 9-0 win over Cayman in U20 qualifiers
Latest News, Sports
Jahmarie Nolan’s late hat- trick carries Jamaica to 9-0 win over Cayman in U20 qualifiers
February 27, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica—Jahmarie Nolan came off the bench to score a sublime second-half hat-trick to lead Jamaica to a 9-0 beating of the Cayman Islands in...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Five charged in major anti-lottery scam operations in Manchester
Latest News, News
Five charged in major anti-lottery scam operations in Manchester
February 27, 2026
MANCHESTER, Jamaica—Five people have been charged with breaches of the Law Reform (Fraudulent Conversion Special Provisions) and the Dangerous Drugs A...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct