Czech police have released footage of the deadly attack by 24-year-old graduate student David Kozak in which 13 people were killed and 25 others injured before he killed himself on the campus of Charles University in Prague.
The footage released by the police is from the body cameras of the officers who intervened in the attack at Charles University in Prague. The chilling footage shows armed police entering a building and students running away from the University grounds. The gunman - identified in Czech media as 24-year-old David Kozak - opened fire in the philosophy department, where he was a student.
At a news conference today, police said they received a call after the attack from someone who said he would "try to follow the lead of the shooter and start shooting" but managed to track him down and arrest him. A spokesman said told reporters that the gunman was believed to be on the upper floors of the building when armed police arrived on Thursday. They later redirected their search to the roof. At one point the gunman shot and wounded three people outside the building with a long-range weapon, and police returned fire. As officers approached him, he armed himself with a shotgun and killed himself, authorities said.
Officers found his body while searching the building. A police official said "heaps of ammunition - incredible amounts" were found at the crime scene. The gunman killed at least 13 people and wounded 25.
Saturday will be a national day of mourning in honor of the victims, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said. "I would like to express my sincere condolences to all the relatives of the victims, to all those involved in this tragic incident," he added.
🇨🇿A press conference is being held in Prague after 13 people were killed and 25 injured in a mass shooting.#Prague #Prague #ČeskáRepublika #Czech Republic #CzechRepublic #Czech #SHOOTING #Europe #massshooting #DavidKozak pic.twitter.com/RkMFXJyAz1
— Attentive Media (@AttentiveCEE) December 22, 2023
The shocking dialogues of the policemen at the time of the shootings
Officer 1: “He's hidden, on the left side. From where I stand. He's shooting! He shoots behind the wall.
Policeman 2: I see him.
Policeman 1: I see him, he's there! He wears black clothes! It's around the corner! Next to the flag! Next to the Czech flag in the corner, at the top of the school! He has a long gun. On the roof. On the left at the School of Arts. Up in the gallery! He wears black clothes!
Policeman 2: Here he comes!
Policeman 1: Shooting and standing on top, like the Czech flag!'
The policeman then addresses the perpetrator
Officer 2: "Hey, old man!@@@@! Here I am, shoot over here! Come here! Here I am, here I am! Hey! Hey!”
Immediately afterwards he addresses his colleagues again
Cop 1: “So he doesn't shoot those people, dammit! C@@@@@! There are people in there. It's on the 4th floor."
Policeman 2: "Do you still see him?"
Policeman 1: Yes, no, no
Voice over the wireless: (unintelligible) “…at the entrance to the philosophy department. An ambulance is waiting. First aid will be provided. We have to tell them the perpetrator is on the roof.
Officer 1: Nobody's going in there. (unintelligible voice on radio) Watch out, he's coming! Comes!
Voice over the radio: We need to get the paramedics ready.
Policeman 1: He has a long gun! It is big!
Policeman 2: Passes under the Ukrainian flag! I repeat: It passes under the Ukrainian flag!
Cop 1: Damn it, I'd kick him out of here.
Policeman 2: He's in the headlights. It's in the spotlight.
Policeman 1: He's in the lights and taking cover!
Policeman 1 to his colleague: Watch out!
Cop 2: He needs a sniper to take it on. I only have a Glock 19.
Policeman 1: He's there! Caution! He's shooting! He will shoot! (shots are heard). Dammit, we can't shoot. Hiding under the flag! In the lights! With the lights! And he shoots through the wall!
Policeman 2: I'll kill him!
Voice over the wireless: It's under the Ukrainian flag. Under the tower. Not under the Czech flag.
Policeman 2: Moved!
Policeman 1: Affirmative! Moved! And he shoots through the wall! I suggest the SWAT team shoot from the bridge! There is a clear field of view!
Policeman 2: Or someone with a big gun from the Rudolfinum.
Policeman 1: Bastard! C@@@@@@ dirty!
Policeman 2: You're a c@@@@@@ bastard, c@@@@@@!
(unintelligible voices on the radio and sirens)
Policeman 2: Guys, come on! Damn it! It's out there. Damn it, let's shoot!
Policeman 1: Ask if you can shoot from here! At least have cover… Let's keep him busy!
Policeman 2: He's up! Got up! Got up! If you have a big gun, drop it!
Source: protothema.gr