A shooting incident in an employment office in Prague 2 left a woman dead and triggered a massive manhunt for the killer on Tuesday. The suspect, identified as 66-year-old Jiří Dvořák, was arrested after several hours of search by hundreds of police officers and helicopters. The motive behind the shooting is still unclear, but the police suspect that it was related to a dispute over unemployment benefits. Here are the details of the Prague shooting and the police operation that followed.
What happened in the employment office?
The shooting took place around 9:30 am on Tuesday when Dvořák entered the employment office on Bělehradská Street and shot a female staff member in her 50s. The woman suffered a serious gunshot wound and was rushed to the hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries. The police said that Dvořák had a history of conflicts with the employment office and had been denied unemployment benefits in the past. The police also said that Dvořák had a criminal record for fraud and theft.
How did the police track down the suspect?
Dvořák fled the scene after the shooting, carrying a black bag and wearing a baseball cap. He drove away in a blue Hyundai Santa Fe vehicle, which he later abandoned in a nearby street. The police launched a massive manhunt for the suspect, involving hundreds of officers, helicopters, and sniffer dogs. The police also released the photo and the description of the suspect and appealed to the public to provide any information about his whereabouts.
The police raided several locations related to the suspect, including his apartment in Libeň, where they found a booby trap installed on his door. The booby trap was a fire system that sprayed a flammable liquid on anyone who tried to enter the apartment. One police officer was injured by the booby trap and had to be hospitalized.
The police finally arrested Dvořák around 3 pm on Tuesday, Palackého Street in Prague 2. The police said that Dvořák did not resist the arrest and did not have any weapons with him. The police escorted Dvořák to the police station, where he was interrogated and charged with murder.
What are the legal consequences and the public reactions to the shooting?
The shooting incident shocked the public and sparked outrage over the security situation in the city. The mayor of Prague, Zdeněk Hřib, condemned the shooting and expressed his condolences to the victim’s family. He also praised the police for their swift and professional action. The minister of labor and social affairs, Jana Maláčová, also expressed her sympathy and solidarity with the staff of the employment office. She said that the shooting was an isolated incident and that the employment offices are safe places for the public.
The suspect, Dvořák, faces up to 20 years in prison or a life sentence if convicted of murder. He is also likely to face charges for injuring a police officer and endangering public safety. The police are still investigating the motive and the circumstances of the shooting.
