Evening events in Prague, affected by a shooting, and Christmas markets in BW and RLP closed due to a storm
In a shocking turn of events, a shooting incident occurred at the Philosophical Faculty (Faculty of Arts) of Charles University in Prague, leaving at least fourteen people dead and twenty-four others injured. The suspected perpetrator, identified as David Kozák, a master's student in world history at the university, was reportedly found dead at the scene.
Emergency services were swiftly dispatched, and the area around the crime scene was cordoned off. Some students were reported to have fled the building with their hands raised, while others barricaded themselves in classrooms and the library.
Czech President Petr Pavel expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and thanked the citizens for following the instructions of the security forces. The safety of guests and market workers was the top priority in closing several Christmas markets in Baden-Württemberg, including those in Baden-Baden, Buhl (Rastatt district), Constance, and some markets in the city of Baden-Baden were closed at midday due to safety concerns.
The victims' families have expressed concern over the police's handling of the case, with one family actively seeking information. The General Inspectorate of Police Forces initially denied a victim's father access to investigative files, but the Constitutional Court later ruled this was incorrect, affirming the victims' families have rights to such information.
As the situation unfolds, farmers from all over Baden-Württemberg are protesting in Stuttgart today against the planned abolition of tax exemptions for agricultural diesel and motor vehicle tax. This incident was reported by Czech media.
Stay tuned for further updates on these developing stories.
- The local weather report for Prague on this tragic day is forecasting snow showers, with temperatures dipping below freezing, adding another layer of hardship to the general-news events unfolding at Charles University.
- Meanwhile, in a separate event, citizens of Baden-Württemberg are contending with the closure of several Christmas markets due to crime-and-justice concerns, protesting against the planned abolition of tax exemptions for agricultural diesel and motor vehicle tax in Stuttgart, as reported by Czech media.
