At Prague University, a gunman kills 14 people and wounds 25 more

In the deadliest mass shooting the Czech Republic has seen in decades, a gunman opened fire at a university in Prague on Thursday, leaving at least 14 people dead and 25 injured.

Chief of Czech Police Martin Vondrášek stated on Thursday night that authorities believed the gunman, a 24-year-old man, committed suicide, though this was not yet confirmed. Due to the severity of his wounds, the gunman—whom the police claimed to be a Charles University Faculty of Arts student—has not yet been officially identified, according to the chief. His name has not been released by the police.

Authorities are still looking into the cause of the rampage, which happened at Charles University's Faculty of Arts building in the heart of the nation's capital. The neighborhood, which is directly across the Vltava River from Prague Castle, is well-liked by tourists and near to important sites.

According to the police chief, the gunman left his hometown of Hostouň and traveled to Prague.

According to police, some students barricaded themselves in classrooms as the violence started in order to escape the gunshots. Several people were seen hiding on an outside ledge high up in a building in a photo that was posted on social media.

According to a schedule on the university's website, classes were in session on Thursday and the institution was scheduled to take a Christmas break on December 23.