Police: The tragic shooting at the faculty had a significant psychological impact on 9,000 people

Commercial presentation Update: 25/04/2024 14:18
Issued by: 25/04/2024, 11:30

Prague – The tragic shooting at the Faculty of Arts of the Charles University (FF UK) and related events had a significant psychological impact on 9,000 people. Hundreds of experts from the Integrated Rescue System (IZS) and partner organizations provided them with support and crisis intervention. This is stated by the police in a report on the psychosocial assistance provided, which they published on the website today.

During the shooting at the faculty in the center of Prague last year on December 21, 14 people, including students and teachers, lost their lives. After the attack, the perpetrator, who according to the police was a student of the faculty, committed suicide. The murders in Klánovické les and Central Bohemia’s Hostoun were also related to the perpetrator of the shooting at the faculty. Psychologists and interventionists also provided support to people affected by these events, and the police included this in the issued report.

“A total of 54 psychologists and interventionists from the IZS provided crisis intervention on site and in hospitals in the first 24 hours after the shooting at the FF UK, in the first week there were around 190 experts from the IZS and partner organizations. Psychologists and interventions from the IZS and partner organizations provided in in the first week of direct crisis intervention for almost 1,000 affected persons, already in connection with all the acts committed by the perpetrator,” the police said. Another 750 people contacted emergency telephone lines for help.

By mid-February, the police recorded over 6,500 interventions provided, but according to her, it is not easy to quantify all forms of psychological support. “A sober professional estimate speaks of the number of at least 4,000 individuals who received interventions and other services in the field of mental health in connection with the shooting incident at the FF UK,” the police calculated. Although the police ended the role of coordinator of psychosocial assistance at the end of January and transferred the coordination to the university, the support of those affected has not ended and continues in the medium-term phase.

According to police estimates, the shooting and related events had a significant psychological impact on 9,000 people. The police remind us that they unsecured residents of Klánovice, other universities and medical facilities, among others. Subsequently, there were cases of threats of violence at various schools and medical facilities.

From the police, 43 psychologists and crisis interventionists participated in the assistance. They communicated with the bereaved, affected students and faculty staff, assisted in handing over personal belongings left in the faculty building or during commemorative events. The police officers who intervened at the scene of the tragedy also received a repeated offer of support.

The police are still investigating the case. Aleš Cimbala, the spokesman for the Municipal Prosecutor’s Office in Prague, told ČTK today that he cannot provide more detailed information until the end of the investigation into the tragic event. “After carrying out all the actions and finishing the examination, I assume that we will comment on the matter,” he said.

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