21 December 2023 , 18:21
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A newlywed British couple have told how they were screamed at to "stay down" as there was an active shooter in Prague.
Czech police have said that at least 15 people have been killed at a university in central Prague where the shooter was a student and around 30 others injured. The suspected gunman is also dead said the interior ministry.
Officers sealed off Jan Palach Square and evacuated the philosophy department of Charles University, where the shooting took place. They are still searching the area, including the building's balconies, for possible explosives.
Where tourists, students and others would normally be enjoying the view of the iconic monument instead reflected chaos and terror on Thursday afternoon. Police vehicles and ambulances sped across the bridge with their sirens wailing to reach the empty square, which was sealed off by officers.
Tom Leese pictured with his wife Rachael (PA)Tom Leese, 34, a video producer and his wife Rachael, 31, an account director, who are on their honeymoon in the country, were having a drink in the Slivovitz Museum, close by when they were told to get down by a police officer.
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Mr Leese said: "A policeman came in and started shouting loudly in what I assume was Czech. I asked for it in English and he said there was an active shooter and to stay inside and stay down. The staff were very calm, turned all the lights off very quickly and urged us to stay calm, the restaurant was relatively quiet. The policeman left urgently and we stood in the corner of the restaurant."
People running from the scene (X/FilipHorky)The couple, from Merstham in Surrey, were kept in the the museum for over an hour, hearing sirens outside. Mr Leese added: "Rachael is still in shock. We were meant to be having dinner at the restaurant right by the building tonight and were going to pop in for a drink earlier on, but we crossed the bridge instead.
"With everyone else being so calm it didn't seem real to me. We've been in touch with all of our families to let them know that we're safe. We obviously can't wait to get home now."
There was chaos and terror in Prague (Getty Images)Meanwhile, Joe Hyland, 18, from Truro, Cornwall, was on holiday with friends in Prague and was in a street near the attack when he heard the shooting. "We heard gunshots and ran for cover in the metro after police shouted at everyone to run. It was very frightening.
"All of a sudden people started running. We didn’t know what was going on. We saw police going past us. They were shouting 'run'" he said. Mr Hyland is now back safely at his hotel. "We rang our parents straight away. This was our first holiday with just us lads."
Pavel Nedoma, the director of the nearby Rudolfinum Gallery, said he saw from a window a person standing on a balcony of the building and firing a gun. Video footage shows people desperately fleeing the building and others trying to hide by a wall. President Petr Pavel said he was "shocked" by what happened and offered his condolences to the relatives of the victims.