In a chilling act of violence that shattered the festive fervour in Prague, Czech Republic, a 24-year-old armed student unleashed a deadly onslaught, killing 14 people and leaving 25 others wounded in Charles University. This tragedy, the first-ever school shooting in the nation's history, was witnessed closely by an Indian student studying at the university who had left the premises just a little while before the attacker, David Kozak, unleashed the horror.
Ridhima Shukla, a journalism student pursuing her masters, recounted to Moneycontrol the tragedy that unfolded in front of her eyes as she answered frantic calls from her family and friends in India.
“I couldn't shake off the thought that it could have been me,” Shukla said as she relieved the horror.
“I was hanging out with friends excited for lunch in the old town. Suddenly, police cars rushed by, making us uneasy. At first, we thought it was routine, but more and more cops on foot and cop cars zooming past hinted at trouble. We checked Twitter and found out it was a school shooting happening right at our university near our faculty's building,” Shukla said.
Shukla, who has also studied in Denmark, has always vouched for the safety in European countries. But things took an unprecedented turn.
“My heart raced as calls from friends and family in India poured in. It was shocking to realize the danger was so close, at our own university,” she said.
She also said that the shooter was supposed to be in the same building where her classes are generally held.
“Luckily, that place got evacuated, but then the shooter went to a different building. It's scary to think how close it was to where we usually have our classes,” she said.
Students at Charles University found themselves trapped in classrooms or fleeing the building with hands raised as the echoes of gunfire reverberated through the campus. Footage captured the harrowing scenes of people seeking refuge on building ledges, some trying to hold on as much as possible.
Trams and metro stations were closed in the aftermath of the attack and Shukla and her friends took a taxi back to their dormitory.
On whether any acquaintances were victims, she said: “We heard about a class senior stuck inside the building but thankfully, he got out safe. Others weren't as lucky, and their names haven't even been shared with us yet.”
Shukla also recalled that she had chosen Europe over an Ivy League college because she deemed the former safer than the US especially when it comes to gun violence. But the experience has left her shaken.
“I had chosen Europe over Columbia University for my master's because it felt safer, but this incident shook that sense of safety. Trust in people and places, the backdrop of this region, got a hit. It's a sad reminder that even in beautiful spots, unexpected and awful things can happen” she said.
A makeshift memorial, adorned with candles and flowers, materialized at the university's headquarters overnight, drawing mourners despite the inclement weather. Shukla is attending tonight.
David Kozak fatally shot his own father in his hometown of Hostoun, west of Prague before coming to his university to carry out the meticulously planned attack, targeting fellow students and faculty members. The motive behind Kozak's rampage remains a mystery. He has been described as an “excellent student” with no criminal record.
The horror deepened as Czech media alleged that the assailant had posted content alluding to thoughts of suicide and mass killings.
(Ridhima Shukla is a freelance journalist and student at Charles University)
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