Teacher killed in machete attack in Prague 4

Czech police have tweeted that an unknown perpetrator killed a teacher with a machete in Prague 4, shortly before noon on Thursday. Police apprehended a suspect at around 1:30 pm. The suspect initially fled the school where the fatal attack took place, leaving the weapon behind.

"We have apprehended the perpetrator. Now standard operations will take place. We will also deal with what preceded the attack and look for the motive," the police said, according to news server iDnes.

Police also confirmed on Twitter that a suspect had been apprehended. "Detectives from the homicide department tracked down and detained the suspect!" they said, adding to their original tweet.

According to TV Nova, the police detained the suspect near a quarry in Zbraslav, at the southern edge of Prague.

Police spokesman Jan Rybanský said the school was a secondary vocational school on Ohradní Street.

School director Karel Dvořák said that one of the students had apparently attacked a teacher. Police have not confirmed that, and have not released the names of the victim or the suspect. 

"He was our teacher, a long-term educational worker. And allegedly it was our student [who attacked the teacher]. I don't know more," Dvořák said, according to the Czech News Agency (ČTK).

Several hundred armed police officers and a helicopter had been involved in the hunt to find the suspect.

"Before noon, an unknown perpetrator attacked one of the high school teachers in Prague 4 with a machete," the police tweeted right after the attack.

"Unfortunately, he did not survive the attack. The perpetrator escaped and several hundred police officers are now diligently searching. A helicopter has also been deployed in the search. The weapon remained in place after the attack."

According to iDnes.cz, the death of the teacher was confirmed by rescue spokeswoman Jana Poštová, who said the quick response team worked at length to revive the victim.

Despite the efforts of rescuers, the teacher succumbed to injuries on the spot. Police did not indicate whether the attacker was a man or a woman. The attack reportedly occurred on the school's fourth floor in a corridor.

The school has been evacuated, and a psychologist will be working with the students and school staff, Prague City Hall spokesman Vít Hofman said, adding that he cannot give out more details.

ČTK reports that the secondary vocational school offers education in the fields of car mechanics, electromechanics, carpentry, and locksmithing.