Internet sends prayers as clip shows Prague University students hanging off building to evade mass shooter

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC: Chaos and terror erupted Thursday afternoon, December 21, at Charles University's Faculty of Arts building in the Historic Centre of Prague. A 24-year-old gunman opened fire around 3 pm, shooting 14 people dead and injuring 25 others in the deadliest attack in modern Czech history, according to BBC.

Mass shooting suspect identified as 24-year-old Polish history student David Kozak

The shooter has been identified as David Kozak, a student at the university studying Polish history. Kozak was heavily armed with legally-owned guns and ample ammunition. In social media posts leading up to the attacks, he had written about thoughts of suicide and mass murder, and was even inspired by “a terrible event abroad," according to Czech media reports.

As gunshots rang out, panic swept across the university campus and surrounding area popular with tourists. Dramatic social media footage shows terrified people hiding from the gunman on ledges several stories up on the Faculty of Arts building in desperate attempts to flee from the gunman.

Haunting images also show crowds sprinting away from the iconic Charles Bridge nearby. Kozak was later reported as being 'eliminated' following his rampage across the university campus. Authorities say he shot himself dead as police special forces closed in.

Earlier on the day of the attack, Kozak had killed his own father near their home village outside Prague. While an exact motive is still unknown, officials say his actions were clearly premeditated.

Charles University students stayed in contact with loved ones as horror unfolded

Inside the Faculty of Arts building, university staff and students barricaded themselves for over an hour in locked classrooms and offices, shoving furniture against doors and huddling quietly in darkness and fear.

“Currently stuck inside my classroom in Prague,” one student named Jakob Weizman wrote on X at the time of the shooting. “Locked the door before the shooter tried to open it."

An email sent to all staff warned: "Stay put, don't go anywhere, if you're in the offices, lock them and place furniture in front of the door, turn off the lights."

Some students stayed in contact with loved ones through frantic text messages and social media posts as the horror unfolded around them.

Sergei Medvedev, a professor who was lecturing an auditorium of students when the shooting started, said at first he didn't realize what was happening. “The students heard it better because I was so much concentrated on my talking, on my lecture,” he explained.

Special operations police swept through the building over an hour later, briefly searching rooms and then evacuating shell-shocked survivors.

Internet erupts with outpouring of support in response to mass shooting

The global community responded with an outpouring of support and solidarity as news of the devastating mass shooting at Charles University spread. Social media platforms became channels for expressing prayers, shock, heartbreak, and outrage.

One user on Facebook conveyed, "Prayers to the victims and their families," encapsulating the shared sorrow and empathy for those affected. Another shared the impact of the visual content, stating, "Pictures and videos on social media give me the chills. Very heartbreaking."

"Terrifying," expressed a third user, succinctly capturing the horror of the situation, while another person said, "Praying for the deceased families," reflecting a deep sense of compassion and solidarity.

"I get so angry every time I see these mass shootings. I feel horrible for the people who have to endure this," articulated a fifth user, echoing the growing sentiment of frustration and grief over recurring acts of violence.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala cancelled his upcoming events after the 'tragic events' that left the historic university reeling. Charles University, founded in 1347, is the oldest and largest university in the Czech Republic.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.