'Saddened by the News': Jaishankar Condoles Deadly Shooting at Prague University

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday expressed condolences to the families of the victims killed during the deadly shooting incident at Prague’s Charles University. On Thursday, a 24-year-old Czech student shot dead his father, then killed 14 people and wounded 25 others before possibly killing himself.

After what was the worst-ever mass shooting in the central European country, the government declared a day of mourning on Dec. 23. “Saddened by the news of the shooting incident at Prague’s Charles University. Deepest condolences to the families of the victims,” Jaishankar wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

At a special cabinet meeting, President Petr Pavel expressed his “great sadness along with helpless anger at the unnecessary loss of so many young lives.” “I would like to express my sincere condolences to all relatives of the victims, to all who were at this tragic incident, the most tragic in the history of the Czech Republic.”

Police were reportedly tipped off earlier in the day that the suspect was likely heading to Prague from his town in the Kladno region outside the capital with intentions of taking his own life. Shortly after that, the shooter’s father was found dead. Police chief Martin Vondrasek said they evacuated a Faculty of Arts building where the shooter was due to attend a lecture, but then were called to the faculty’s larger main building, arriving within minutes after reports of the shooting.

The gunman is also suspected in the killings of another man and his two-month-old daughter who were found last week shot dead in woods in a village outside Prague, Vondrasek said. Police said he was a high-achieving student with no prior criminal record and that he acted alone.

Police asked not to reveal the man’s identity but his name reported by some Czech media matched a police search report. Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan said the shooting had no connection to international terrorism. The White House condemned the shooting and said the US was ready to offer assistance. Leaders across Europe including France’s Emmanuel Macron also offered their support.

(With agency inputs)