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
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • 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
      • #
    • Obits
    • 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
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • 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
      • #
    • Obits
    • 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
    • Business Bites
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • Videos
  • Career & Education
  • Classifieds
  • All Woman
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • 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"}
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

‘Stop ignoring mining communities’, pleads Russell
Latest News, News
‘Stop ignoring mining communities’, pleads Russell
November 4, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Member of Parliament (MP) for St Ann South Eastern, Dr Kenneth Russell, is insisting that the time has come for communities in the...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Headley hits six as Eltham crush Tivoli 9-0 to reach Manning Cup quarters
Latest News, Sports
Headley hits six as Eltham crush Tivoli 9-0 to reach Manning Cup quarters
November 4, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Captain  Santana Headley scored six times as Eltham High trounced Tivoli Gardens High 9-0 at the Ashenheim Stadium and booked thei...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Jamaican diaspora urged to support Reggae Boyz v USA South Florida match-up in December
Latest News, Sports
Jamaican diaspora urged to support Reggae Boyz v USA South Florida match-up in December
November 4, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — For the first time since 2011, the Jamaican diaspora in South Florida will have a chance to see the senior Reggae Boyz at home as ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Man stabbed to death, brother hospitalised in St Ann sibling dispute
Latest News, News
Man stabbed to death, brother hospitalised in St Ann sibling dispute
November 4, 2026
ST ANN, Jamaica— A man is dead, and his brother admitted to hospital following a domestic dispute in Cascade, St Ann, Wednesday afternoon. The dead ma...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Latest News, News
WATCH: US midterm results unlikely to shift Holness’ diplomatic approach – Chang
November 4, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Political commentator Kevin O’Brien Chang does not expect the results of the United States midterm elections, which saw the Democr...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer", "breaking-news":"Push Notifications"}
Adam Hill to lead Proven Properties into next chapter of sustainable growth
Business, Latest News
Adam Hill to lead Proven Properties into next chapter of sustainable growth
November 4, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica —  Adam Hill has been appointed chief executive officer of Proven Properties, effective November 1, 2026, the company has announced....
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Soft Power series honours nearly 100 women leaders
Business, Latest News, Lifestyle, ...
Soft Power series honours nearly 100 women leaders
Online feature by Dr Daren Johnson ends with tribute to late Consul General Alsion Roach Wilson
November 4, 2026
An online series that highlighted about 95 women leaders in Jamaica and the diaspora has come to a close, ending with a tribute to the late Consul Gen...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Gas prices down $2.94, diesel down $.25
Latest News, News
Gas prices down $2.94, diesel down $.25
November 4, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Motorists should see a decrease at the pumps in the price of gasoline effective Thursday, November 5, according to the latest ex-r...
{"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