Foreign nationals were among at least 14 people killed after a student opened fire at a university in Prague, authorities have said.

Police are investigating a possible motive for the attack, one of the Czech Republic’s worst mass shootings, which left more than 20 others injured.

The bloodshed took place in the Czech capital on Thursday at the philosophy department building of Charles University, where the shooter was a student, Prague police chief Martin Vondrasek said.

The gunman also died, authorities said. His name has not been released.

Mr Vondrasek said 14 people had died and 25 were wounded, after earlier reporting that 15 had died and 24 were hurt. Authorities warned that the death toll could rise.

Police gave no details about the victims or a possible motive for the shooting at the building located near the Vltava River in Jan Palach Square.

Czech interior minister Vit Rakusan said investigators do not suspect a link to any extremist ideology or groups.

Mr Vondrasek said police believe the gunman killed his father earlier on Thursday in his home town of Hostoun, just west of Prague, and that he had also been planning to kill himself.

Later on Thursday, Mr Vondrasek said that based on a search of his home, the gunman was also suspected in the killing of another man and his two-month-old daughter on December 15 in Prague.

The police chief described the gunman as an excellent student with no criminal record.

The gunman suffered “devastating injuries” but it was not clear if he killed himself or was shot in an exchange of gunfire with officers, Mr Vondrasek said, adding that there was “nothing to suggest that he had an accomplice”.

The shooter legally owned several guns, with police saying he was heavily armed Thursday and was carrying a lot of ammunition.

The shootings were “well thought-out, a horrible act”, Mr Vondrasek said.

University authorities said they would tighten security in university buildings with immediate effect.

Charles University said in a statement: “We mourn the loss of life of members of our university community, express our deepest condolences to all the bereaved and our thoughts are with all those affected by the tragedy.”

The building where the shooting took place is in Jan Palach Square, a busy tourist area in Prague’s Old Town. It is just a few minutes’ walk from the picturesque Old Town Square, a major tourist attraction where a popular Christmas market attracts thousands of visitors.

The government quickly sought to quell concerns that the massacre was back by foreign interests.
“There’s no indication that it has anything to do with international terrorism,” Mr Rakusan said.

“It’s a horrible crime, something the Czech Republic has never experienced.”

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre sent a message of condolence from US President Joe Biden.

“The president and the first lady are praying for the families who lost loved ones and everyone else who has been affected by this senseless act of violence,” Ms Jean-Pierre said.

“On behalf of the United States, we send our condolences and also wish the survivors of this tragic event a speedy recovery.”

The Czech government declared Saturday a national day of mourning to honour the victims, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said.

Previously, the nation’s worst mass shooting was in 2015, when a gunman opened fire in the south-eastern town of Uhersky Brod, killing eight before fatally shooting himself.