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On 24 February 2015, a [[mass shooting]] occurred at the {{lang|cs|Družba}} restaurant in the town of {{lang|cs|[[Uherský Brod]]}}, [[Czech Republic]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/24/us-czech-shooting-idUSKBN0LS1OJ20150224|title=Gunman kills eight in Czech restaurant then kills himself|agency=Reuters|accessdate=24 February 2015}}</ref> Eight people were killed, and the gunman, 63-year-old {{lang|cs|Zdeněk Kovář}}. In addition, one other person was injured.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/168fb416b841447d870ccc9890198bbc/mayor-8-dead-czech-restaurant-shooting|title=9 dead including gunman in Czech restaurant shooting|work=The Big Story|accessdate=24 February 2015}}</ref> {{lang|cs|Uherský Brod}} is 260 kilometers (160 miles) east-southeast of the Czech capital [[Prague]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mail.com/int/news/world/3375656-mayor-8-dead-czech-restaurant-shooting.html#.2394-stage-set1-2|title=9 dead including gunman in Czech restaurant shooting |publisher=mail.com|accessdate=24 February 2015}}</ref> It is one of the two worst mass murders in the country's peacetime history, alongside a 1973 vehicular rampage committed by {{lang|cs|[[Olga Hepnarová]]}}.<ref name="nova">{{cite web|url=http://tn.nova.cz/clanek/ceske-masakry-hepnarova-lesni-vrah-blazen-z-frenstatu.html|title=České masakry: Hepnarová, lesní vrah, blázen z Frenštátu... [Czech massacres: Hepnarová, forest killer, crazy man from Frenštát]|date=25 February 2015|publisher=nova.cz|accessdate=25 February 2015|language=Czech}}</ref> The circumstances of the shooting led to an examination on the [[gun politics in the Czech Republic]] and police rules of engagement against active shooters.<ref name="idnes-engagement" />
On 24 February 2015, a [[mass shooting]] occurred at the {{lang|cs|Družba}} restaurant in the town of {{lang|cs|[[Uherský Brod]]}}, [[Czech Republic]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/24/us-czech-shooting-idUSKBN0LS1OJ20150224|title=Gunman kills eight in Czech restaurant then kills himself|agency=Reuters|accessdate=24 February 2015}}</ref> Eight people were killed, and the gunman, 63-year-old {{lang|cs|Zdeněk Kovář}}. In addition, one other person was injured.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/168fb416b841447d870ccc9890198bbc/mayor-8-dead-czech-restaurant-shooting|title=9 dead including gunman in Czech restaurant shooting|work=The Big Story|accessdate=24 February 2015}}</ref> {{lang|cs|Uherský Brod}} is 260 kilometers (160 miles) east-southeast of the Czech capital [[Prague]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mail.com/int/news/world/3375656-mayor-8-dead-czech-restaurant-shooting.html#.2394-stage-set1-2|title=9 dead including gunman in Czech restaurant shooting |publisher=mail.com|accessdate=24 February 2015}}</ref> It is one of the two worst mass murders in the country's peacetime history, alongside a 1973 vehicular rampage committed by {{lang|cs|[[Olga Hepnarová]]}}.<ref name="nova">{{cite web|url=http://tn.nova.cz/clanek/ceske-masakry-hepnarova-lesni-vrah-blazen-z-frenstatu.html|title=České masakry: Hepnarová, lesní vrah, blázen z Frenštátu... [Czech massacres: Hepnarová, forest killer, crazy man from Frenštát]|date=25 February 2015|publisher=nova.cz|accessdate=25 February 2015|language=Czech}}</ref> The circumstances of the shooting led to an examination on the [[gun politics in the Czech Republic]] and police rules of engagement against active shooters.<ref name="idnes-engagement" />


==Shooting==
== Background ==
Czech media and experts immediately linked the Uherský Brod massacre to a mass murder that took place two years before in [[Frenštát pod Radhoštěm]], another Moravian town lying 90 kms northwards.<ref name="blazek">{{Citation | last = Kvasnička | first = Jakub | title = Černé úterý [Black Tuesday] | newspaper = Týden | publication-place = Praha | volume = 22 | issue = 10 | date = 2 March 2015 | page = 14 }}</ref> In the attack, a 57-yearl-old man attempted to blow up a block of flats after having been ordered to vacate his flat that had been foreclosed by creditors. During night, the murderer first blocked both exits from the building, and then removed and opened the main gas supply into the building's corridor. A neighbor disturbed the murderer, who proceeded to set the gas on fire before the gas could spread throughout the whole building. Still, the explosion and subsequent fire was large enough to demolish part of the building, killing the perpetrator and 5 other people immediately, wounding 11 others, one of whom died on 17 February 2015.<ref name="ct-frenstat">{{cite web|url=http://www.ceskatelevize.cz/ct24/regiony/302028-vybuch-ve-frenstatu-ma-sedmou-obet-zemrel-tezce-popaleny-muz/|title=Výbuch ve Frenštátu má sedmou oběť. Zemřel těžce popálený muž [The explosion in Frenštát has a seventh victim. A severly burned man died]|publisher=ct24.cz|date=17 February 2015|accessdate=7 March 2015|language=Czech}}</ref>

In the Czech Republic, pentagenarian and sextagenarian men are the group with the highest suicide rate, as well as the one that commits the largest murderous acts.<ref name="blazek" /> Many of these men became economically unsuccessful after the [[Velvet revolution]]: both murderers in Frenštát and Brod were long-term unemployed, blamed society for their failures and had frequent conflicts with their neighbors.<ref name="blazek" />

Kovář was probably further inspired by [[Charlie Hebdo attack|''Charlie Hebdo'' attack]] and [[2015 Copenhagen shootings]] in seeing how large worldwide publicity both of the attacks received, which apparently led Kovář to contact media during the act.<ref name="blazek" />

Before the murders, Kovář's family became worried about his mental state to the point that they contacted authorities in connection with his possession of gun license. Just four days before the murders, Kovář had received a police request to present a new health clearance, otherwise his license would be revoked.<ref name="aktualne-reeval"/> Before entering the Družba restaurant, Kovář visited at least two other establishments.<ref name="nova-dalsi hospody" /> Those, however, had fewer customers, and Kovář left them immediately after entering.<ref name="nova-dalsi hospody">{{cite web|url=http://tn.nova.cz/clanek/obesel-nekolik-restauraci-nez-vrazdil-v-druzbe.html|title=Masakr Zdeňka K.: Než vraždil v Družbě, obešel restaurací několik! [Massacre of Zdeněk K.: Before killing in Družba, he visited several restaurants]|publisher=nova.cz|date=26 February 2015|accessdate=7 March 2015|language=Czech}}</ref>

Media further pointed out that in the atheist Czech society, pubs and restaurants play a very important societal function. Targeting a restaurant in the Czech Republic thus has the same symbolism as does targeting a church in other countries.<ref name="motyl">{{Citation | last = Motýl | first = Ivan | title = Útok na hospodu [Assacination of a pub] | newspaper = Týden | publication-place = Praha | volume = 22 | issue = 10 | date = 2 March 2015 | page = 20 }}</ref>

==Družba attack==
{{lang|cs|Kovář}} entered the building at about 12:30 p.m., the restaurant's busiest weekday time. Around 20 people were in the restaurant at the time.<ref name="CzechShooting">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-31608932|title=At least 9 people died in shooting in Czech Republic|publisher=BBC News|date=24 February 2015|accessdate=24 February 2015}}</ref> While on stairs leading to the restaurant, which is situated on the first floor, Petr Gabriel<!-- DO NOT WIKILINK HIM, THIS WAS NOT THE FOOTBALLER -->, who was rushing to the bathroom, got ahead of {{lang|cs|Kovář}}.<ref name="idnes-gabriel" /> Armed with a [[CZ 75]]B [[semiautomatic]] [[pistol]], which is manufactured in the town, and an Alfa 820 [[revolver]],<ref name="idnes-guns" /> {{lang|cs|Kovář}} opened fire without any warning immediately after entering the restaurant, shooting his victims directly in the head. Eight died immediately or soon afterwards.<ref name="dead immediately">{{cite web|url=http://www.novinky.cz/krimi/362774-strelec-z-brodu-vyjednaval-o-rukojmich-i-kdyz-uz-byli-mrtvi.html|title=Střelec z Brodu vyjednával o rukojmích, i když už byli mrtví [The Brod shooter was negotiating about hostages even though they were already dead]|date=26 February 2015|publisher=novinky.cz|accessdate=26 February 2015|language=Czech}}</ref> One female victim, who was shot twice in the chest, managed to leave the restaurant, while Gabriel remained hidden in the restaurant's bathroom. Eight<ref name="dead immediately" /> other people escaped the building through the back door.<ref name="idnes-gabriel">{{cite web|url=http://zlin.idnes.cz/svedek-strelby-v-uherskem-brodu-dny-/zlin-zpravy.aspx?c=A150224_162403_zlin-zpravy_kol|title= Zachránilo mě, že jsem šel na záchod, líčí muž útok střelce v hospodě [I was saved by going to the bathroom]|date=25 February 2015|publisher=idnes.cz|accessdate=25 February 2015|language=Czech}}</ref> Another customer, {{lang|cs|Jiří Nesázel}}, who took cover under a table, used a moment in which {{lang|cs|Kovář}} was reloading, and threw a chair at him, hitting him on the neck, thus giving opportunity to {{lang|cs|Nesázel}} and two other people to run out through the front door.<ref name="tn-nesazel">{{cite web|url=http://tn.nova.cz/clanek/hrdina-napadl-besniciho-vraha-zachranil-tim-zivot-sobe-i-kamaradovi.html|title= Hrdina napadl běsnícího vraha: Zachránil život sobě i kamarádovi! [A hero attacked the murderer, saving his own and a friend's life]|date=25 February 2015|publisher=Televize nova|accessdate=26 February 2015|language=Czech}}</ref>
{{lang|cs|Kovář}} entered the building at about 12:30 p.m., the restaurant's busiest weekday time. Around 20 people were in the restaurant at the time.<ref name="CzechShooting">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-31608932|title=At least 9 people died in shooting in Czech Republic|publisher=BBC News|date=24 February 2015|accessdate=24 February 2015}}</ref> While on stairs leading to the restaurant, which is situated on the first floor, Petr Gabriel<!-- DO NOT WIKILINK HIM, THIS WAS NOT THE FOOTBALLER -->, who was rushing to the bathroom, got ahead of {{lang|cs|Kovář}}.<ref name="idnes-gabriel" /> Armed with a [[CZ 75]]B [[semiautomatic]] [[pistol]], which is manufactured in the town, and an Alfa 820 [[revolver]],<ref name="idnes-guns" /> {{lang|cs|Kovář}} opened fire without any warning immediately after entering the restaurant, shooting his victims directly in the head. Eight died immediately or soon afterwards.<ref name="dead immediately">{{cite web|url=http://www.novinky.cz/krimi/362774-strelec-z-brodu-vyjednaval-o-rukojmich-i-kdyz-uz-byli-mrtvi.html|title=Střelec z Brodu vyjednával o rukojmích, i když už byli mrtví [The Brod shooter was negotiating about hostages even though they were already dead]|date=26 February 2015|publisher=novinky.cz|accessdate=26 February 2015|language=Czech}}</ref> One female victim, who was shot twice in the chest, managed to leave the restaurant, while Gabriel remained hidden in the restaurant's bathroom. Eight<ref name="dead immediately" /> other people escaped the building through the back door.<ref name="idnes-gabriel">{{cite web|url=http://zlin.idnes.cz/svedek-strelby-v-uherskem-brodu-dny-/zlin-zpravy.aspx?c=A150224_162403_zlin-zpravy_kol|title= Zachránilo mě, že jsem šel na záchod, líčí muž útok střelce v hospodě [I was saved by going to the bathroom]|date=25 February 2015|publisher=idnes.cz|accessdate=25 February 2015|language=Czech}}</ref> Another customer, {{lang|cs|Jiří Nesázel}}, who took cover under a table, used a moment in which {{lang|cs|Kovář}} was reloading, and threw a chair at him, hitting him on the neck, thus giving opportunity to {{lang|cs|Nesázel}} and two other people to run out through the front door.<ref name="tn-nesazel">{{cite web|url=http://tn.nova.cz/clanek/hrdina-napadl-besniciho-vraha-zachranil-tim-zivot-sobe-i-kamaradovi.html|title= Hrdina napadl běsnícího vraha: Zachránil život sobě i kamarádovi! [A hero attacked the murderer, saving his own and a friend's life]|date=25 February 2015|publisher=Televize nova|accessdate=26 February 2015|language=Czech}}</ref>


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===Perpetrator===
===Perpetrator===
'''{{lang|cs|Zdeněk Kovář}}''' ({{circa|1951}} &ndash; 24 February 2015) was 63 years old at the time of his death and lived with his wife in a house not far from the scene of the shooting. Neighbours described them as deranged, both possibly mentally ill, and known for loudness and verbal abuse of their neighbours.<ref name="lidovky 1">{{cite web|url=http://www.lidovky.cz/strelec-z-restaurace-zdenek-k-z-uherskobrodskeho-sidliste-paz-/zpravy-domov.aspx?c=A150224_185455_ln_domov_ogo|title=Střelec z restaurace? Kovář byl postrachem sídliště, jeho žena se zabarikádovala [Neighbors were afraid of the Zdeněk Kovář, his wife has barricaded herself in the house]|author=Ondřej Golis, Šárka Kabátová, Radek Kedroň|publisher=lidovky.cz|accessdate=24 February 2015|language=Czech}}</ref> {{lang|cs|Kovář}} was a son of a worker in the local {{lang|cs|[[Česká zbrojovka Uherský Brod]]}} factory, the largest small arms manufacturer in the country. Formerly an [[electrician]], he had been unemployed for at least a decade.<ref name="novinky 1">{{cite web|url=http://www.novinky.cz/krimi/362562-zena-strelce-z-brodu-policisty-pry-pusti-do-domu-az-se-vrati-manzel.html|title=Žena střelce z Brodu policisty prý pustí do domu, až se vrátí manžel [The shooters wife alleges she will let the police into the house upon husband's return]|author=Aleš Fuks|publisher=novinky.cz|accessdate=24 February 2015|language=Czech}}</ref>
'''{{lang|cs|Zdeněk Kovář}}''' ({{circa|1951}} &ndash; 24 February 2015) was 63 years old at the time of his death and lived with his wife in a house not far from the scene of the murders. Neighbours described them as deranged, both possibly mentally ill, and known for loudness and verbal abuse of their neighbours.<ref name="lidovky 1">{{cite web|url=http://www.lidovky.cz/strelec-z-restaurace-zdenek-k-z-uherskobrodskeho-sidliste-paz-/zpravy-domov.aspx?c=A150224_185455_ln_domov_ogo|title=Střelec z restaurace? Kovář byl postrachem sídliště, jeho žena se zabarikádovala [Neighbors were afraid of the Zdeněk Kovář, his wife has barricaded herself in the house]|author=Ondřej Golis, Šárka Kabátová, Radek Kedroň|publisher=lidovky.cz|accessdate=24 February 2015|language=Czech}}</ref> {{lang|cs|Kovář}} was a son of a worker in the local {{lang|cs|[[Česká zbrojovka Uherský Brod]]}} factory, the largest small arms manufacturer in the country. Formerly an [[electrician]], he had been unemployed for at least a decade.<ref name="novinky 1">{{cite web|url=http://www.novinky.cz/krimi/362562-zena-strelce-z-brodu-policisty-pry-pusti-do-domu-az-se-vrati-manzel.html|title=Žena střelce z Brodu policisty prý pustí do domu, až se vrátí manžel [The shooters wife alleges she will let the police into the house upon husband's return]|author=Aleš Fuks|publisher=novinky.cz|accessdate=24 February 2015|language=Czech}}</ref>


{{lang|cs|Kovář}} was a [[Gun politics in the Czech Republic|holder of a gun license]] since 2000<ref name="idnes-license">{{cite web|url=http://zlin.idnes.cz/policiste-resili-se-strelcem-z-brodu-zbrojni-prukaz-f9j-/zlin-zpravy.aspx?c=A150226_151826_zlin-zpravy_ras|title= Střelci nedávno prodloužili zbrojní průkaz, i když si to nepřála ani rodina [The shooter had recently renewed gun license, despite the wishes of the family]|date=26 February 2015|publisher=idnes.cz|accessdate=26 February 2015|language=Czech}}</ref> and legally owned both of the guns he used.<ref name="idnes-guns" /><ref name="novinky 1" /><ref name="poltydenik1" />
{{lang|cs|Kovář}} was a [[Gun politics in the Czech Republic|holder of a gun license]] since 2000<ref name="idnes-license">{{cite web|url=http://zlin.idnes.cz/policiste-resili-se-strelcem-z-brodu-zbrojni-prukaz-f9j-/zlin-zpravy.aspx?c=A150226_151826_zlin-zpravy_ras|title= Střelci nedávno prodloužili zbrojní průkaz, i když si to nepřála ani rodina [The shooter had recently renewed gun license, despite the wishes of the family]|date=26 February 2015|publisher=idnes.cz|accessdate=26 February 2015|language=Czech}}</ref> and legally owned both of the guns he used.<ref name="idnes-guns" /><ref name="novinky 1" /><ref name="poltydenik1" />
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While there is a central registry of crimes and of traffic misdemeanors, no such registry exists for other misdemeanors in the Czech Republic. In case that a non-traffic misdemeanor is solved on spot (e.g. fining by a policeman), no record of it is made. Only when the investigated person or the police refuse to deal with the misdemeanor on the spot, an administrative proceeding before municipal misdemeanor committee is initiated and if convicted, a record of it is made by municipality.<ref name="feber">{{Citation|last=Feber|first=Vít|year=2011|title=Misdemeanor process with focus on dealing with misdemeanors by the Police of Czech Republic|publication-place=[[Brno]]|url=https://is.muni.cz/th/254649/pravf_m/DP_Vit_Feber.pdf|language=Czech}}</ref>
While there is a central registry of crimes and of traffic misdemeanors, no such registry exists for other misdemeanors in the Czech Republic. In case that a non-traffic misdemeanor is solved on spot (e.g. fining by a policeman), no record of it is made. Only when the investigated person or the police refuse to deal with the misdemeanor on the spot, an administrative proceeding before municipal misdemeanor committee is initiated and if convicted, a record of it is made by municipality.<ref name="feber">{{Citation|last=Feber|first=Vít|year=2011|title=Misdemeanor process with focus on dealing with misdemeanors by the Police of Czech Republic|publication-place=[[Brno]]|url=https://is.muni.cz/th/254649/pravf_m/DP_Vit_Feber.pdf|language=Czech}}</ref>


The Government of the Czech Republic had taken a decision to introduce a central registry for all misdemeanors already in October 2014, planning to have the system working within two years.<ref name="misdemanor registry">{{cite web|url=http://www.ceskatelevize.cz/ct24/domaci/290514-vlada-chce-zavest-registr-prestupku-pri-opakovani-bude-pokuta-30-tisic/|title= Vláda chce zavést registr přestupků, při opakování bude pokuta 30 tisíc [Government plans to inroduce misdemeanor registry, repeated offences will be fined by CZK 30.000 (€1.200)]|date=27 October 2014|publisher=aktualne.cz|accessdate=28 February 2015|language=Czech}}</ref> As police are obliged to revoke a gun license when the licensee has committed more than one misdemeanor against public order in a period of three years,<ref name="Firearms Act"/> the central registry of misdemeanors might have allowed police to effectively revoke the license long before the shooting.<ref name="misdemanor registry - lidovky">{{cite web|url=http://www.lidovky.cz/strelec-ziskal-zbrojni-pas-pred-mesicem-rodina-se-tomu-snazila-zabranit-1a5-/zpravy-domov.aspx?c=A150226_125022_ln_domov_sk|title=Střelec získal zbrojní pas před měsícem. Rodina se tomu snažila zabránit [Shooter had the gun license for a month, family tried to prevent it]|date=26 February 2015|publisher=Lidové noviny|accessdate=28 February 2015|language=Czech}}</ref>
The Government of the Czech Republic had taken a decision to introduce a central registry for all misdemeanors already in October 2014, planning to have the system working within two years.<ref name="misdemanor registry">{{cite web|url=http://www.ceskatelevize.cz/ct24/domaci/290514-vlada-chce-zavest-registr-prestupku-pri-opakovani-bude-pokuta-30-tisic/|title= Vláda chce zavést registr přestupků, při opakování bude pokuta 30 tisíc [Government plans to inroduce misdemeanor registry, repeated offences will be fined by CZK 30.000 (€1.200)]|date=27 October 2014|publisher=aktualne.cz|accessdate=28 February 2015|language=Czech}}</ref> As police are obliged to revoke a gun license when the licensee has committed more than one misdemeanor against public order in a period of three years,<ref name="Firearms Act"/> the central registry of misdemeanors might have allowed police to effectively revoke the license long before the murders.<ref name="misdemanor registry - lidovky">{{cite web|url=http://www.lidovky.cz/strelec-ziskal-zbrojni-pas-pred-mesicem-rodina-se-tomu-snazila-zabranit-1a5-/zpravy-domov.aspx?c=A150226_125022_ln_domov_sk|title=Střelec získal zbrojní pas před měsícem. Rodina se tomu snažila zabránit [Shooter had the gun license for a month, family tried to prevent it]|date=26 February 2015|publisher=Lidové noviny|accessdate=28 February 2015|language=Czech}}</ref>


===Health clearance===
===Health clearance===
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According to the mayor {{lang|cs|Patrik Kunčar}}, {{lang|cs|Kovář}}'s family members tried to prevent Kovář from having the license renewed by pleading with his general practitioner not to grant him the necessary health clearance, since they felt threatened and considered him mentally unstable.<ref name="ct24-kovar">{{cite web|url=http://www.ceskatelevize.cz/ct24/domaci/302915-strelec-z-brodu-mel-novy-zbrojni-pas-jen-mesic-rodina-tomu-chtela-zabranit/|title= Střelec z Brodu měl nový zbrojní pas jen měsíc, rodina tomu chtěla zabránit [The shooter had renewed firearm license only a month ago, family tried to prevent it]|date=25 February 2015|publisher=ČT 24|accessdate=26 February 2015|language=Czech}}</ref> Nevertheless, Kovář received clearance from his general practitioner and presented it as a part of his license renewal application on 19 January 2015.<ref name="idnes-license"/>
According to the mayor {{lang|cs|Patrik Kunčar}}, {{lang|cs|Kovář}}'s family members tried to prevent Kovář from having the license renewed by pleading with his general practitioner not to grant him the necessary health clearance, since they felt threatened and considered him mentally unstable.<ref name="ct24-kovar">{{cite web|url=http://www.ceskatelevize.cz/ct24/domaci/302915-strelec-z-brodu-mel-novy-zbrojni-pas-jen-mesic-rodina-tomu-chtela-zabranit/|title= Střelec z Brodu měl nový zbrojní pas jen měsíc, rodina tomu chtěla zabránit [The shooter had renewed firearm license only a month ago, family tried to prevent it]|date=25 February 2015|publisher=ČT 24|accessdate=26 February 2015|language=Czech}}</ref> Nevertheless, Kovář received clearance from his general practitioner and presented it as a part of his license renewal application on 19 January 2015.<ref name="idnes-license"/>


After renewing the license in January, the police were contacted by an unspecified person who reported to them on {{lang|cs|Kovář}}'s mental state. The police subsequently contacted {{lang|cs|Kovář}}'s general practitioner, and psychiatrist, and on 17 February 2015 ordered a health reevaluation.<ref name="idnes-license"/> He received the letter on 19 February 2015, four days before the shooting.<ref name="aktualne-reeval">{{cite web|url=http://zpravy.aktualne.cz/domaci/strelci-prodlouzili-v-lednu-zbrojni-pas-rodina-byla-proti/r~ec509042bdab11e4a7d8002590604f2e|title=Policie poslala střelce k psychiatrovi, za čtyři dny vraždil [Police sent the shooter to psychiatrist, he committed the murder four days later]|date=26 February 2015|publisher=aktualne.cz|accessdate=26 February 2015|language=Czech}}</ref> Under the law, {{lang|cs|Kovář}} was obliged to present a new health clearance within a month or lose the license.<ref name="Firearms Act"/> As of 26 February 2015, it was unclear whether {{lang|cs|Kovář}} failed the health evaluation, or ignored it prior to the shooting; Czech media has speculated that the apparent attempt of the authorities to review {{lang|cs|Kovář}}'s mental state may have triggered the rampage.<ref name="aktualne-reeval"/>
After renewing the license in January, the police were contacted by an unspecified person who reported to them on {{lang|cs|Kovář}}'s mental state. The police subsequently contacted {{lang|cs|Kovář}}'s general practitioner, and psychiatrist, and on 17 February 2015 ordered a health reevaluation.<ref name="idnes-license"/> He received the letter on 19 February 2015, four days before the murders.<ref name="aktualne-reeval">{{cite web|url=http://zpravy.aktualne.cz/domaci/strelci-prodlouzili-v-lednu-zbrojni-pas-rodina-byla-proti/r~ec509042bdab11e4a7d8002590604f2e|title=Policie poslala střelce k psychiatrovi, za čtyři dny vraždil [Police sent the shooter to psychiatrist, he committed the murder four days later]|date=26 February 2015|publisher=aktualne.cz|accessdate=26 February 2015|language=Czech}}</ref> Under the law, {{lang|cs|Kovář}} was obliged to present a new health clearance within a month or lose the license.<ref name="Firearms Act"/> As of 26 February 2015, it was unclear whether {{lang|cs|Kovář}} failed the health evaluation, or ignored it prior to the murders; Czech media has speculated that the apparent attempt of the authorities to review {{lang|cs|Kovář}}'s mental state may have triggered the rampage.<ref name="aktualne-reeval"/>


A few days after the murders, the Ministry of Interior announced its deliberation about making the gun license registry accessible to psychiatrists in order to give them the ability to report to police possible changes of mental state of their patients having an impact on their eligibility to possess firearms. This was, however, rejected by psychiatric associations. They argued that psychiatrists' main goal is to cure patients, and that potential patients may be more likely to avoid psychiatric treatment for fear of losing their gun license.<ref name="psychiatrists">{{cite web|url=http://zpravy.idnes.cz/psychiatri-vnitro-zbrane-uhersky-brod-dyn-/domaci.aspx?c=A150226_123957_domaci_hv|title=Máme léčit, ne trestat, odmítají psychiatři návrh vnitra k registru zbraní [We are supposed to cure, not to punish: psychiatrists reject proposal of Ministry of Interior to make gun license registry accessible for them]|date=26 February 2015|publisher=aktualne.cz|accessdate=28 February 2015|language=Czech}}</ref>
A few days after the murders, the Ministry of Interior announced its deliberation about making the gun license registry accessible to psychiatrists in order to give them the ability to report to police possible changes of mental state of their patients having an impact on their eligibility to possess firearms. This was, however, rejected by psychiatric associations. They argued that psychiatrists' main goal is to cure patients, and that potential patients may be more likely to avoid psychiatric treatment for fear of losing their gun license.<ref name="psychiatrists">{{cite web|url=http://zpravy.idnes.cz/psychiatri-vnitro-zbrane-uhersky-brod-dyn-/domaci.aspx?c=A150226_123957_domaci_hv|title=Máme léčit, ne trestat, odmítají psychiatři návrh vnitra k registru zbraní [We are supposed to cure, not to punish: psychiatrists reject proposal of Ministry of Interior to make gun license registry accessible for them]|date=26 February 2015|publisher=aktualne.cz|accessdate=28 February 2015|language=Czech}}</ref>
Line 94: Line 105:
''The statistics from other countries are quite clear. Curbing of access to legal firearms doesn't lead to less crime, but on the contrary. An expert debate on the topic may be useful especially due to some efforts of the European Union for absurd regulation of legal firearms possession. The Czech gun laws may serve as model for some other European countries.''|Roman Váňa, Chairman of the Parliamentary Security Committee<ref name="mps">{{cite web|url=http://www.parlamentnilisty.cz/politika/poslanecka-snemovna/Vic-ozbrojenych-obcanu-Chovanec-na-tom-parazituje-Knize-Belobradek-Kalousek-desitky-dalsich-a-peklo-kolem-masakru-v-U-Brode-363640|title=Víc ozbrojených občanů, Chovanec na tom parazituje. Kníže, Bělobrádek, Kalousek, desítky dalších a peklo kolem masakru v U. Brodě [More armed people, Chovance is parasiting; the prince, Bělobrádek, Kalousek and tens of others on the hell around the Uherský Brod massacre]|date=25 February 2015|publisher=Parlamentní listy|accessdate=1 March 2015|language=Czech}} "Ministr vnitra naznačil možný směr diskuze, kterou podobná událost vždy vyvolává. Statistiky ze světa však hovoří jasně – omezení legálního držení zbraní nikdy nevede k poklesu kriminality, právě naopak. Odborná diskuze o tomto tématu může být přínosná i vzhledem k některým snahám z EU nesmyslně regulovat legální držení zbraní. Přísná česká zbraňová legislativa by mohla být vzorem pro některé jiné evropské země,“</ref>}}
''The statistics from other countries are quite clear. Curbing of access to legal firearms doesn't lead to less crime, but on the contrary. An expert debate on the topic may be useful especially due to some efforts of the European Union for absurd regulation of legal firearms possession. The Czech gun laws may serve as model for some other European countries.''|Roman Váňa, Chairman of the Parliamentary Security Committee<ref name="mps">{{cite web|url=http://www.parlamentnilisty.cz/politika/poslanecka-snemovna/Vic-ozbrojenych-obcanu-Chovanec-na-tom-parazituje-Knize-Belobradek-Kalousek-desitky-dalsich-a-peklo-kolem-masakru-v-U-Brode-363640|title=Víc ozbrojených občanů, Chovanec na tom parazituje. Kníže, Bělobrádek, Kalousek, desítky dalších a peklo kolem masakru v U. Brodě [More armed people, Chovance is parasiting; the prince, Bělobrádek, Kalousek and tens of others on the hell around the Uherský Brod massacre]|date=25 February 2015|publisher=Parlamentní listy|accessdate=1 March 2015|language=Czech}} "Ministr vnitra naznačil možný směr diskuze, kterou podobná událost vždy vyvolává. Statistiky ze světa však hovoří jasně – omezení legálního držení zbraní nikdy nevede k poklesu kriminality, právě naopak. Odborná diskuze o tomto tématu může být přínosná i vzhledem k některým snahám z EU nesmyslně regulovat legální držení zbraní. Přísná česká zbraňová legislativa by mohla být vzorem pro některé jiné evropské země,“</ref>}}


In one of the first reactions on the day of the shooting, before knowing whether Kovář possessed the guns he used legally, Minister of Interior Milan Chovanec stated that it was up to debate whether "[the society] wants to have so many gun license holders".<ref name="chovance too many">{{cite web|url=http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/zpravy/chovanec-zvazuje-kvuli-strelbe-zda-neni-v-cr-mnoho-zbrani/1185400|title= Chovanec zvažuje kvůli střelbě, zda není v ČR mnoho zbraní [Chovanec is thinking whether there are not too many guns in the Czech Republic]|date=24 February 2015|publisher=ČTK|accessdate=1 March 2015|language=Czech}}</ref>
In one of the first reactions on the day of the murders, before knowing whether Kovář possessed the guns he used legally, Minister of Interior Milan Chovanec stated that it was up to debate whether "[the society] wants to have so many gun license holders".<ref name="chovance too many">{{cite web|url=http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/zpravy/chovanec-zvazuje-kvuli-strelbe-zda-neni-v-cr-mnoho-zbrani/1185400|title= Chovanec zvažuje kvůli střelbě, zda není v ČR mnoho zbraní [Chovanec is thinking whether there are not too many guns in the Czech Republic]|date=24 February 2015|publisher=ČTK|accessdate=1 March 2015|language=Czech}}</ref>


Support for Chovanec's comments was largely among members of parliament elected for the [[Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia|Communist Party]]. Others accused Chovanec of abusing the tragedy for his own political benefit.<ref name="mps"/> Some members of parliament, such as Miroslav Antl, Chairman of the Senate Consitutional Committee, commented that the licensing process is thorough enough, and pointed out that he considers carrying of concealed firearm as a necessity due to variety of reasons, especially in recent time also due to the rising threat of islamist terrorist attacks.<ref name="mps"/> Roman Váňa, Chairman of the Parliamentary Security Committee and member of Chovanec's own Social Democratic party, refused Chovanec's argument, while some other members of parliament went in the opposite direction, claiming that there are too few armed people among the Czech population, since a single armed civilian might have stopped Kovář's assault.<ref name="mps"/> The sentiment was shared also by, for example, Martin Koller, a former ambassador to Kuvait and Iraq, who said that armed attacker may be stopped only by armed force, and who pointed out to past well known Czech case of a machete attack and to the [[Charlie Hebdo shooting|''Charlie Hebdo'' shooting]], stating that both might have ended quite differently had the victims been armed.<ref name="koller">{{cite web|url=http://www.novinky.cz/komentare/362713-komentar-blazen-versus-ozbrojeny-obcan-martin-koller.html|title= Blázen versus ozbrojený občan [Madman versus armed citizen]|date=27 February 2015|publisher=novinky.cz|accessdate=1 March 2015|language=Czech}}</ref>
Support for Chovanec's comments was largely among members of parliament elected for the [[Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia|Communist Party]]. Others accused Chovanec of abusing the tragedy for his own political benefit.<ref name="mps"/> Some members of parliament, such as Miroslav Antl, Chairman of the Senate Consitutional Committee, commented that the licensing process is thorough enough, and pointed out that he considers carrying of concealed firearm as a necessity due to variety of reasons, especially in recent time also due to the rising threat of islamist terrorist attacks.<ref name="mps"/> Roman Váňa, Chairman of the Parliamentary Security Committee and member of Chovanec's own Social Democratic party, refused Chovanec's argument, while some other members of parliament went in the opposite direction, claiming that there are too few armed people among the Czech population, since a single armed civilian might have stopped Kovář's assault.<ref name="mps"/> The sentiment was shared also by, for example, Martin Koller, a former ambassador to Kuvait and Iraq, who said that armed attacker may be stopped only by armed force, and who pointed out to past well known Czech case of a machete attack and to the [[Charlie Hebdo shooting|''Charlie Hebdo'' shooting]], stating that both might have ended quite differently had the victims been armed.<ref name="koller">{{cite web|url=http://www.novinky.cz/komentare/362713-komentar-blazen-versus-ozbrojeny-obcan-martin-koller.html|title= Blázen versus ozbrojený občan [Madman versus armed citizen]|date=27 February 2015|publisher=novinky.cz|accessdate=1 March 2015|language=Czech}}</ref>
Line 103: Line 114:


==Reactions==
==Reactions==
Terrorism was ruled out as a motive for the shooting. Czech Minister of Interior {{lang|cs|[[Milan Chovanec]]}} said on [[Twitter]] that the shooting was not a terrorist incident but actions of a "crazed individual".<ref name="RaziyeAkkoc"/><ref name="EightDead">{{cite web|url=http://news.yahoo.com/nine-killed-czech-restaurant-shooting-tv-144520792.html|title=Eight dead in gun rampage at Czech restaurant|publisher=Yahoo! News|date=24 February 2015|accessdate=24 February 2015}}</ref>
Terrorism was ruled out as a motive for the murders. Czech Minister of Interior {{lang|cs|[[Milan Chovanec]]}} said on [[Twitter]] that the shooting was not a terrorist incident but actions of a "crazed individual".<ref name="RaziyeAkkoc"/><ref name="EightDead">{{cite web|url=http://news.yahoo.com/nine-killed-czech-restaurant-shooting-tv-144520792.html|title=Eight dead in gun rampage at Czech restaurant|publisher=Yahoo! News|date=24 February 2015|accessdate=24 February 2015}}</ref>


[[List of Prime Ministers of the Czech Republic|Czech Prime Minister]] {{lang|cs|[[Bohuslav Sobotka]]}}, who was on a trip to [[South Korea]] at the time, said in a statement, "I am shocked by the tragic attack that happened today in {{lang|cs|Uherský Brod}}. I would like to express my deepest sorrow and condolences to the families and relatives of the victims."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/24/czech-republic-shooting_n_6743316.html|title=At Least 8 Killed In Shooting In Eastern Czech Republic|work=The Huffington Post|date=24 February 2015|accessdate=24 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/02/24/czech-official-8-people-killed-in-restaurant-shooting|title=8 dead, plus gunman, in Czech restaurant shooting rampage|publisher=Fox News Channel|date=24 February 2015|accessdate=24 February 2015}}</ref> Mayor {{lang|cs|Patrik Kunčar}} also said, "I'm shaken to the core by this incident. I could not have dreamed something like this could happen here, in a restaurant that I'm so familiar with."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/feb/24/czech-republic-restaurant-shooting-multiple-deaths-reported|title=Nine dead in Czech Republic restaurant shooting|work=The Guardian|date=24 February 2015|accessdate=24 February 2015}}</ref>
[[List of Prime Ministers of the Czech Republic|Czech Prime Minister]] {{lang|cs|[[Bohuslav Sobotka]]}}, who was on a trip to [[South Korea]] at the time, said in a statement, "I am shocked by the tragic attack that happened today in {{lang|cs|Uherský Brod}}. I would like to express my deepest sorrow and condolences to the families and relatives of the victims."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/24/czech-republic-shooting_n_6743316.html|title=At Least 8 Killed In Shooting In Eastern Czech Republic|work=The Huffington Post|date=24 February 2015|accessdate=24 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/02/24/czech-official-8-people-killed-in-restaurant-shooting|title=8 dead, plus gunman, in Czech restaurant shooting rampage|publisher=Fox News Channel|date=24 February 2015|accessdate=24 February 2015}}</ref> Mayor {{lang|cs|Patrik Kunčar}} also said, "I'm shaken to the core by this incident. I could not have dreamed something like this could happen here, in a restaurant that I'm so familiar with."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/feb/24/czech-republic-restaurant-shooting-multiple-deaths-reported|title=Nine dead in Czech Republic restaurant shooting|work=The Guardian|date=24 February 2015|accessdate=24 February 2015}}</ref>


The day after the shooting, hundreds of people gathered in front of the Druzba restaurant and lit candles to honor the victims.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.yahoo.com/residents-czech-town-honor-8-killed-shooting-095307701.html|title=Residents in Czech town honor 8 killed in shooting|work=Yahoo! News|date=February 25, 2015|accessdate=February 27, 2015}}</ref>
The day after the murders, hundreds of people gathered in front of the Druzba restaurant and lit candles to honor the victims.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.yahoo.com/residents-czech-town-honor-8-killed-shooting-095307701.html|title=Residents in Czech town honor 8 killed in shooting|work=Yahoo! News|date=February 25, 2015|accessdate=February 27, 2015}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 11:26, 7 March 2015

Uherský Brod shooting
Location of Zlín Region in Czech Republic
Location of Czech Republic in Europe
LocationDružba restaurant, Uherský Brod, Zlín Region, Czech Republic
Date24 February 2015
c. 12:30 p.m.–14:23 p.m.
Attack type
Mass shooting, murder–suicide
Weapons
Deaths8 + the perpetrator
Injured1
PerpetratorZdeněk Kovář[2]

On 24 February 2015, a mass shooting occurred at the Družba restaurant in the town of Uherský Brod, Czech Republic.[3] Eight people were killed, and the gunman, 63-year-old Zdeněk Kovář. In addition, one other person was injured.[4] Uherský Brod is 260 kilometers (160 miles) east-southeast of the Czech capital Prague.[5] It is one of the two worst mass murders in the country's peacetime history, alongside a 1973 vehicular rampage committed by Olga Hepnarová.[6] The circumstances of the shooting led to an examination on the gun politics in the Czech Republic and police rules of engagement against active shooters.[7]

Background

Czech media and experts immediately linked the Uherský Brod massacre to a mass murder that took place two years before in Frenštát pod Radhoštěm, another Moravian town lying 90 kms northwards.[8] In the attack, a 57-yearl-old man attempted to blow up a block of flats after having been ordered to vacate his flat that had been foreclosed by creditors. During night, the murderer first blocked both exits from the building, and then removed and opened the main gas supply into the building's corridor. A neighbor disturbed the murderer, who proceeded to set the gas on fire before the gas could spread throughout the whole building. Still, the explosion and subsequent fire was large enough to demolish part of the building, killing the perpetrator and 5 other people immediately, wounding 11 others, one of whom died on 17 February 2015.[9]

In the Czech Republic, pentagenarian and sextagenarian men are the group with the highest suicide rate, as well as the one that commits the largest murderous acts.[8] Many of these men became economically unsuccessful after the Velvet revolution: both murderers in Frenštát and Brod were long-term unemployed, blamed society for their failures and had frequent conflicts with their neighbors.[8]

Kovář was probably further inspired by Charlie Hebdo attack and 2015 Copenhagen shootings in seeing how large worldwide publicity both of the attacks received, which apparently led Kovář to contact media during the act.[8]

Before the murders, Kovář's family became worried about his mental state to the point that they contacted authorities in connection with his possession of gun license. Just four days before the murders, Kovář had received a police request to present a new health clearance, otherwise his license would be revoked.[10] Before entering the Družba restaurant, Kovář visited at least two other establishments.[11] Those, however, had fewer customers, and Kovář left them immediately after entering.[11]

Media further pointed out that in the atheist Czech society, pubs and restaurants play a very important societal function. Targeting a restaurant in the Czech Republic thus has the same symbolism as does targeting a church in other countries.[12]

Družba attack

Kovář entered the building at about 12:30 p.m., the restaurant's busiest weekday time. Around 20 people were in the restaurant at the time.[13] While on stairs leading to the restaurant, which is situated on the first floor, Petr Gabriel, who was rushing to the bathroom, got ahead of Kovář.[14] Armed with a CZ 75B semiautomatic pistol, which is manufactured in the town, and an Alfa 820 revolver,[1] Kovář opened fire without any warning immediately after entering the restaurant, shooting his victims directly in the head. Eight died immediately or soon afterwards.[15] One female victim, who was shot twice in the chest, managed to leave the restaurant, while Gabriel remained hidden in the restaurant's bathroom. Eight[15] other people escaped the building through the back door.[14] Another customer, Jiří Nesázel, who took cover under a table, used a moment in which Kovář was reloading, and threw a chair at him, hitting him on the neck, thus giving opportunity to Nesázel and two other people to run out through the front door.[16]

Authorities received the first distress call from a person that escaped from the restaurant at 12:38 p.m., and the first police car reached the building at 12:47 p.m.[17] In the Czech Republic, all policemen are armed with pistols (mostly with variants of CZ75 that was also used by Kovář) and most have body armor and a select-fire rifle available in their cars. The first two officers to arrive immediately entered the building with body armor on and guns drawn.[17] Kovář, taking cover behind a bar opposite to the door, opened fire on the officers as soon as they entered.[17] The police noted people lying on the ground and sitting on chairs between them and the shooter.[17] Not knowing the status of the civilians, the police decided not to return fire, covered exits and waited for arrival of a tactical unit.[17] By this time other police units as well as the first ambulance car had arrived, taking away the wounded female victim who had escaped.[17]

At 12:56 p.m., the perpetrator called a Prima TV station crime news reporter, claiming that he was being harassed by multiple people and that he had hostages whom he threatened to kill.[13][18] The journalist who spoke to the gunman called the police,[19] who were already sending all available units to the location.[17]

A police negotiator contacted Kovář by phone at 13:07.[15][17] During negotiations, Kovář claimed to have hostages, although all people inside were most likely already dead.[17][15] The hostage claim delayed police entry into the building.[15]

The tactical team breached the building at 14:23 p.m. after Kovář stopped communicating.[15] Upon the team's entry, Kovář immediately shot himself dead.[20][21][22] Apart from stun grenades, the policemen did not fire a single shot.[17]

After securing the restaurant, the police let in a large number of medical personnel. The only person alive who remained inside the building was Gabriel, who had been hiding in the toilet for the entire duration of the incident.[17]

Perpetrator and victims

Perpetrator

Zdeněk Kovář (c. 1951 – 24 February 2015) was 63 years old at the time of his death and lived with his wife in a house not far from the scene of the murders. Neighbours described them as deranged, both possibly mentally ill, and known for loudness and verbal abuse of their neighbours.[23] Kovář was a son of a worker in the local Česká zbrojovka Uherský Brod factory, the largest small arms manufacturer in the country. Formerly an electrician, he had been unemployed for at least a decade.[24]

Kovář was a holder of a gun license since 2000[25] and legally owned both of the guns he used.[1][24][17]

Victims

A total of eight people, excluding the gunman, died in the rampage. This included seven men, aged 27 to 66, and one woman, aged 47. One other woman, aged 37, survived despite being shot twice in the chest.[26]

Aftermath

Number of legally owned firearms in the Czech Republic (in thousands) and total number of victims of intentional homicide by any object
See also: Gun politics in the Czech Republic

In order to be granted a gun license in the Czech Republic, a person must pass a qualification exam, receive a health clearance by a general practitioner, who may require a further examination by a specialist, such as a psychological or psychiatric evaluation, and must pass a background check. According to Section 23 of the Czech Firearms Act, an applicant may not be granted a license if he has committed more than one misdemeanor against public order in the previous three years.[27] Similarly, the law further makes gun license unaccessible to people with mental illnesses.[28] The license must be renewed every five years (every ten years for licenses issued after 1 July 2014). The renewal requires the presentation of a new health clearance, while the police conduct a new background check.[27] Kovář's license was renewed in January 2015.[25]

Misdemeanors registry

Kovář applied for a renewal in accordance with the law. According to Kovář's brother-in-law,[29] neighbors, and a local policeman[24] who had repeated contacts with him, Kovář and his wife had committed misdemeanors against public order. The municipality of Uherský Brod, which deals with such misdemeanors, didn't register them.[25] Kovář thus had a clean history. This satisfies the requirements, and Kovář had his license renewed by the police.[25]

While there is a central registry of crimes and of traffic misdemeanors, no such registry exists for other misdemeanors in the Czech Republic. In case that a non-traffic misdemeanor is solved on spot (e.g. fining by a policeman), no record of it is made. Only when the investigated person or the police refuse to deal with the misdemeanor on the spot, an administrative proceeding before municipal misdemeanor committee is initiated and if convicted, a record of it is made by municipality.[30]

The Government of the Czech Republic had taken a decision to introduce a central registry for all misdemeanors already in October 2014, planning to have the system working within two years.[31] As police are obliged to revoke a gun license when the licensee has committed more than one misdemeanor against public order in a period of three years,[27] the central registry of misdemeanors might have allowed police to effectively revoke the license long before the murders.[32]

Health clearance

We cannot foresee the outcome, but it is most probable that the [ordered health clearance reevaluation] would lead to revocation of [Kovář's] license.

— Milan Chovanec, Minister of Interior[33]

The police may, at any time, order a new health clearance inspection if they have a reasonable concern that the person is not healthy enough to continue holding their license.[27]

According to the mayor Patrik Kunčar, Kovář's family members tried to prevent Kovář from having the license renewed by pleading with his general practitioner not to grant him the necessary health clearance, since they felt threatened and considered him mentally unstable.[29] Nevertheless, Kovář received clearance from his general practitioner and presented it as a part of his license renewal application on 19 January 2015.[25]

After renewing the license in January, the police were contacted by an unspecified person who reported to them on Kovář's mental state. The police subsequently contacted Kovář's general practitioner, and psychiatrist, and on 17 February 2015 ordered a health reevaluation.[25] He received the letter on 19 February 2015, four days before the murders.[10] Under the law, Kovář was obliged to present a new health clearance within a month or lose the license.[27] As of 26 February 2015, it was unclear whether Kovář failed the health evaluation, or ignored it prior to the murders; Czech media has speculated that the apparent attempt of the authorities to review Kovář's mental state may have triggered the rampage.[10]

A few days after the murders, the Ministry of Interior announced its deliberation about making the gun license registry accessible to psychiatrists in order to give them the ability to report to police possible changes of mental state of their patients having an impact on their eligibility to possess firearms. This was, however, rejected by psychiatric associations. They argued that psychiatrists' main goal is to cure patients, and that potential patients may be more likely to avoid psychiatric treatment for fear of losing their gun license.[34]

Police response

Active shooter engagement rules of the Czech police

Police were criticized for acting in contradiction with its own rules of active shooter engagement which, inter alia, include the following:[35]

  • active shooter's aim is to kill the largest number of people possible before being stopped by police or committing suicide
  • on average, attacks last 13 minutes
  • in an unknown building, police shall act as fast as possible to find and neutralize all shooters, thus preventing death and injury of other people
  • police must react fast, immediate elimination of the active attacker must be the absolute priority in order to prevent his further actions; generally, tactical teams engage only as a second wave

One of the main topics of debate after Kovář's rampage became the way police dealt with him, especially whether the first two responding officers were, under the circumstances, supposed to immediately engage and neutralize the perpetrator, and whether the decision to wait for the arrival of the tactical unit was sound.[7] The debate became more vocal after a cook, who managed to escape the rampage, claimed that she heard a slow series of single shots coming from the restaurant after the police had retreated.[36] Another witness, who escaped unharmed, refuted this version of events, saying that shots were fired only during the initial ten minutes leading up to the point of police entry, with no shots heard thereafter.[37]

Police said the first responders decided not to engage because they saw civilians lying and sitting in the line of fire between them and the perpetrator, they didn't know their status, and the perpetrator had taken cover behind a bar with only his head and hand holding the pistol visible.[17] According to the Chief of the Zlín Regional Police Department, Jaromír Tkadleček, the Uherský Brod district units present had enough manpower and equipment, including select-fire rifles, to engage Kovář. However, they decided to withdraw due to the perpetrator's claim of having hostages and stated intent to negotiate their release.[38]

Apart from local units, a special ordnance unit was called in from its regional headquarters in Zlín. It arrived about 30 minutes later. Since there are 8 tactical teams covering 14 Czech regions and none in Zlín, a tactical team from Brno was called in. The team's 15 members reached the restaurant by cars in 66 minutes, opting not to use their helicopter that has a capacity of 6. Furthermore, a para-military anti-terrorist police URNA unit was called from Prague, however its helicopters didn't arrive before the end of the stand-off.[38] According to Tkadleček, even if URNA had its headquarters directly in Uherský Brod, it would not have changed anything about the timing nor the manner in which the police engaged Kovář.[39]

Nevertheless, Zlín region politicians announced that they will call for the establishment of a local tactical team. Meanwhile the Minister of Interior commented that the police were already in the process of hiring 4,000 new officers (about 10% of its total manpower), thus reversing cuts enacted by previous governments.[39] Experts further pointed out the necessity to provide more CQB training to policemen in small municipalities and at rural areas. This type of training had until that point been largely aimed and directed at police officers in large towns.[7]

Gun politics

The statistics from other countries are quite clear. Curbing of access to legal firearms doesn't lead to less crime, but on the contrary. An expert debate on the topic may be useful especially due to some efforts of the European Union for absurd regulation of legal firearms possession. The Czech gun laws may serve as model for some other European countries.

— Roman Váňa, Chairman of the Parliamentary Security Committee[40]

In one of the first reactions on the day of the murders, before knowing whether Kovář possessed the guns he used legally, Minister of Interior Milan Chovanec stated that it was up to debate whether "[the society] wants to have so many gun license holders".[41]

Support for Chovanec's comments was largely among members of parliament elected for the Communist Party. Others accused Chovanec of abusing the tragedy for his own political benefit.[40] Some members of parliament, such as Miroslav Antl, Chairman of the Senate Consitutional Committee, commented that the licensing process is thorough enough, and pointed out that he considers carrying of concealed firearm as a necessity due to variety of reasons, especially in recent time also due to the rising threat of islamist terrorist attacks.[40] Roman Váňa, Chairman of the Parliamentary Security Committee and member of Chovanec's own Social Democratic party, refused Chovanec's argument, while some other members of parliament went in the opposite direction, claiming that there are too few armed people among the Czech population, since a single armed civilian might have stopped Kovář's assault.[40] The sentiment was shared also by, for example, Martin Koller, a former ambassador to Kuvait and Iraq, who said that armed attacker may be stopped only by armed force, and who pointed out to past well known Czech case of a machete attack and to the Charlie Hebdo shooting, stating that both might have ended quite differently had the victims been armed.[42]

MF Dnes, the most popular Czech newspaper, pointed out that despite the steady rise of firearm ownership in the country since abolition of restrictive Communist legislation after the Velvet Revolution, the number of intentional homicide victims has been steadily falling since its peak in 1994.[43]

During press conference on 26 February 2015, Chovanec introduced five areas that were to be scrutinized in connection with the Uherský Brod attack: the communication of national police with municipal authorities, possible changes in crisis plans, operational range of tactical teams, and enhanced training of policemen. Chovanec didn't repeat his sentiment regarding the number of gun license holders, rather specified that one of the issues to be analyzed will be the issuing and revocation of licenses under the existing legislation.[7]

Reactions

Terrorism was ruled out as a motive for the murders. Czech Minister of Interior Milan Chovanec said on Twitter that the shooting was not a terrorist incident but actions of a "crazed individual".[19][18]

Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka, who was on a trip to South Korea at the time, said in a statement, "I am shocked by the tragic attack that happened today in Uherský Brod. I would like to express my deepest sorrow and condolences to the families and relatives of the victims."[44][45] Mayor Patrik Kunčar also said, "I'm shaken to the core by this incident. I could not have dreamed something like this could happen here, in a restaurant that I'm so familiar with."[46]

The day after the murders, hundreds of people gathered in front of the Druzba restaurant and lit candles to honor the victims.[47]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Do restaurace vzal střelec své legální zbraně, zjistila policie [The shooter used his legally owned guns]" (in Czech). idnes.cz. 25 February 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  2. ^ "FOTO, VIDEO: Tragédie v Uherském Brodě: Známe jméno šíleného střelce [Pictures and video of the tragedy in Uherský Brod - We know the name of the gunman]" (in Czech). denik.cz. 24 February 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  3. ^ "Gunman kills eight in Czech restaurant then kills himself". Reuters. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  4. ^ "9 dead including gunman in Czech restaurant shooting". The Big Story. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  5. ^ "9 dead including gunman in Czech restaurant shooting". mail.com. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  6. ^ "České masakry: Hepnarová, lesní vrah, blázen z Frenštátu... [Czech massacres: Hepnarová, forest killer, crazy man from Frenštát]" (in Czech). nova.cz. 25 February 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  7. ^ a b c d "Policisté nepochybili, říká ministr. Měli střílet hned, tvrdí ale experti [Minister says the police didn't do any mistakes. Experts say the police were supposed to shoot immediately]" (in Czech). idnes.cz. 26 February 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  8. ^ a b c d Kvasnička, Jakub (2 March 2015), "Černé úterý [Black Tuesday]", Týden, vol. 22, no. 10, Praha, p. 14
  9. ^ "Výbuch ve Frenštátu má sedmou oběť. Zemřel těžce popálený muž [The explosion in Frenštát has a seventh victim. A severly burned man died]" (in Czech). ct24.cz. 17 February 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  10. ^ a b c "Policie poslala střelce k psychiatrovi, za čtyři dny vraždil [Police sent the shooter to psychiatrist, he committed the murder four days later]" (in Czech). aktualne.cz. 26 February 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  11. ^ a b "Masakr Zdeňka K.: Než vraždil v Družbě, obešel restaurací několik! [Massacre of Zdeněk K.: Before killing in Družba, he visited several restaurants]" (in Czech). nova.cz. 26 February 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  12. ^ Motýl, Ivan (2 March 2015), "Útok na hospodu [Assacination of a pub]", Týden, vol. 22, no. 10, Praha, p. 20
  13. ^ a b "At least 9 people died in shooting in Czech Republic". BBC News. 24 February 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  14. ^ a b "Zachránilo mě, že jsem šel na záchod, líčí muž útok střelce v hospodě [I was saved by going to the bathroom]" (in Czech). idnes.cz. 25 February 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  15. ^ a b c d e f "Střelec z Brodu vyjednával o rukojmích, i když už byli mrtví [The Brod shooter was negotiating about hostages even though they were already dead]" (in Czech). novinky.cz. 26 February 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  16. ^ "Hrdina napadl běsnícího vraha: Zachránil život sobě i kamarádovi! [A hero attacked the murderer, saving his own and a friend's life]" (in Czech). Televize nova. 25 February 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Policie odkryla podrobnosti střelby v Uherském Brodě [Police published details of the shooting]" (in Czech). Policejní týdeník. 25 February 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  18. ^ a b "Eight dead in gun rampage at Czech restaurant". Yahoo! News. 24 February 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  19. ^ a b "Czech restaurant shooting: at least eight killed, live updates". The Daily Telegraph. 24 February 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  20. ^ "Střelba v restauraci v Uherském Brodě On-line reportáž [Shooting in a restaurant in Uherský Brod - online coverage]". Mladá fronta DNES (in Czech). 24 February 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  21. ^ "9 dead including gunman in Czech restaurant shooting". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. 24 February 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  22. ^ "Policisté před zásahem se střelcem vyjednávali [The policemen were negotiating with the perpetrator before they stormed the building]" (in Czech). novinky.cz. 25 February 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  23. ^ Ondřej Golis, Šárka Kabátová, Radek Kedroň. "Střelec z restaurace? Kovář byl postrachem sídliště, jeho žena se zabarikádovala [Neighbors were afraid of the Zdeněk Kovář, his wife has barricaded herself in the house]" (in Czech). lidovky.cz. Retrieved 24 February 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  24. ^ a b c Aleš Fuks. "Žena střelce z Brodu policisty prý pustí do domu, až se vrátí manžel [The shooters wife alleges she will let the police into the house upon husband's return]" (in Czech). novinky.cz. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  25. ^ a b c d e f "Střelci nedávno prodloužili zbrojní průkaz, i když si to nepřála ani rodina [The shooter had recently renewed gun license, despite the wishes of the family]" (in Czech). idnes.cz. 26 February 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  26. ^ "Uherský Brod truchlí, na podporu rodin obětí vyhlásil sbírku [Uherský Brod is mourning]" (in Czech). ČT 24. 25 February 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  27. ^ a b c d e Parliament of the Czech Republic (2002), Act No. 119/2002 Coll., on Firearms and Ammunition (in Czech), Prague{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) Cite error: The named reference "Firearms Act" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  28. ^ Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic (2002), Regulation No. 493/2002 Coll., on Assessment of eligibility to be issued or to have a firearms license (Eligibility Regulation) (in Czech), Prague{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) Annex 1
  29. ^ a b "Střelec z Brodu měl nový zbrojní pas jen měsíc, rodina tomu chtěla zabránit [The shooter had renewed firearm license only a month ago, family tried to prevent it]" (in Czech). ČT 24. 25 February 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  30. ^ Feber, Vít (2011), Misdemeanor process with focus on dealing with misdemeanors by the Police of Czech Republic (PDF) (in Czech), Brno{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  31. ^ "Vláda chce zavést registr přestupků, při opakování bude pokuta 30 tisíc [Government plans to inroduce misdemeanor registry, repeated offences will be fined by CZK 30.000 (€1.200)]" (in Czech). aktualne.cz. 27 October 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  32. ^ "Střelec získal zbrojní pas před měsícem. Rodina se tomu snažila zabránit [Shooter had the gun license for a month, family tried to prevent it]" (in Czech). Lidové noviny. 26 February 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  33. ^ "Chovanec: Policie při zásahu v Uherském Brodě neselhala [Police did not fail during the Uherský Brod intervention]" (in Czech). tyden.cz. 26 February 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015. ""Nemůžu předjímat výsledek, ale pravděpodobně na konci tohoto řízení mu měl být ten zbrojní průkaz odebrán," míní Chovanec."
  34. ^ "Máme léčit, ne trestat, odmítají psychiatři návrh vnitra k registru zbraní [We are supposed to cure, not to punish: psychiatrists reject proposal of Ministry of Interior to make gun license registry accessible for them]" (in Czech). aktualne.cz. 26 February 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  35. ^ "Policie nedodržela vlastní zásady a postupy zákroku proti aktivnímu střelci. [Police didn't follow its own rules of engagement against an active shooter]" (in Czech). idnes.cz. 26 February 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  36. ^ "Kdyby hlídka zasáhla, mohli žít, tvrdí svědkyně. Střelec prý vraždil pak [A witness claimed that the police may have saved the victims. The shooter was killing afterwards]" (in Czech). idnes.cz. 27 February 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  37. ^ "Muž, který unikl smrti v Uherském Brodě: Všichni, co seděli okolo mě, byli mrtví [Man that escaped death in Uherský Brod: everyone around me was dead]" (in Czech). ahaonline.cz. 1 March 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  38. ^ a b "Mám rukojmí, budu vyjednávat, řekl útočník policistům. Proto nezasáhli [I have hostages, I want to negotiate, told the attacker to policemen. That is why they did not engage him.]" (in Czech). idnes.cz. 26 February 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  39. ^ a b "Po tragédii v Brodě chce Zlínský kraj vlastní zásahovku [After tragedy in Brod, Zlín region wants its own tactical team]" (in Czech). idnes.cz. 27 February 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  40. ^ a b c d "Víc ozbrojených občanů, Chovanec na tom parazituje. Kníže, Bělobrádek, Kalousek, desítky dalších a peklo kolem masakru v U. Brodě [More armed people, Chovance is parasiting; the prince, Bělobrádek, Kalousek and tens of others on the hell around the Uherský Brod massacre]" (in Czech). Parlamentní listy. 25 February 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015. "Ministr vnitra naznačil možný směr diskuze, kterou podobná událost vždy vyvolává. Statistiky ze světa však hovoří jasně – omezení legálního držení zbraní nikdy nevede k poklesu kriminality, právě naopak. Odborná diskuze o tomto tématu může být přínosná i vzhledem k některým snahám z EU nesmyslně regulovat legální držení zbraní. Přísná česká zbraňová legislativa by mohla být vzorem pro některé jiné evropské země,“
  41. ^ "Chovanec zvažuje kvůli střelbě, zda není v ČR mnoho zbraní [Chovanec is thinking whether there are not too many guns in the Czech Republic]" (in Czech). ČTK. 24 February 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  42. ^ "Blázen versus ozbrojený občan [Madman versus armed citizen]" (in Czech). novinky.cz. 27 February 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  43. ^ "Více zbraní nezpůsobí více vražd, bojíme se jich kvůli televizi [More guns do not lead to more murders, we are afraid of them because of TV]" (in Czech). idnes.cz. 27 February 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  44. ^ "At Least 8 Killed In Shooting In Eastern Czech Republic". The Huffington Post. 24 February 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  45. ^ "8 dead, plus gunman, in Czech restaurant shooting rampage". Fox News Channel. 24 February 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  46. ^ "Nine dead in Czech Republic restaurant shooting". The Guardian. 24 February 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  47. ^ "Residents in Czech town honor 8 killed in shooting". Yahoo! News. February 25, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
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