Initial reports suggest that the incident occurred at the Faculty of Arts of Charles University at Jan Palach Square. Humanities are taught there.
The Police were present in large numbers, including special forces. Jan Palach Square is located just a few hundred meters from the famous Charles Bridge, the landmark of the city on the Vltava River.
Residents advised to stay indoors
Police urged people to avoid the area. Residents were advised to stay indoors. Photos showed students leaving the university building with their hands raised. According to a report by the television channel Nova, the perpetrator was last seen on the roof of the faculty building. An explosion was also reported to have been heard.
Further information about the alleged perpetrator and a possible motive was not immediately available. Students and university staff shared on social media that they had barricaded themselves in lecture halls and offices. People were now being evacuated from the building gradually. The emergency medical service dispatched several ambulances, paramedics, and a mass casualty ambulance to the scene.
Charles University was founded in 1348, making it one of the oldest universities in Europe. It has a total of approximately 49500 male and female students. Around 8000 of them are enrolled at the Faculty of Arts, which offers disciplines such as Germanic Studies, Slavic Languages, and History.
