On Thursday, February 20, a knife attack occurred at a shopping center in the Czech Republic, resulting in the confirmed deaths of two women.
According to reports from the Associated Press, the attack took place at a shopping center in Hradec Králové, approximately 100 kilometers (60 miles) from the capital city of Prague. Authorities have confirmed the arrest of a 16-year-old Czech citizen as a suspect in the case and recovered a knife with a blade measuring approximately 20 centimeters (8 inches) nearby.
Police, who arrived at the scene within minutes of receiving the alert, stated on the social media platform X, “Despite the best efforts of medical personnel, both victims were critically wounded and resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful.”
An emergency responder present at the scene informed local media that the rescue operation lasted for about 40 minutes.
The two female victims were reportedly employees at a store within the shopping center; however, their personal information has not been disclosed by officials.
Iva Kormosová, spokeswoman for the Hradec Králové regional police, stated, “Approximately 10 minutes after the incident, less than a kilometer away from the crime scene, we apprehended the male suspect, who was arrested on-site by a special police team.”
The motive behind the attack remains unclear. Authorities mentioned on X that there are no indications of a “terrorist attack” and believe the assailant randomly selected the victims.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala expressed his condolences to the families of the victims. In a post on X, he stated, “The events that unfolded in Hradec Králové today are incomprehensible and truly terrible.”
Police assured that the situation is now under control and no longer poses a threat to the public. There have been no increases in the city’s security level by officials.