Prague, Czech Republic – A student at the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (FAMU) was detained by police last week after sending an email to a professor threatening torture and murder, according to reports from Seznam Zpravy. The incident has sparked concerns among faculty and staff regarding safety protocols and communication procedures at the prestigious film school.
The student, identified as an Indian national, had previously been conditionally excluded from FAMU following a physical altercation with a fellow student three weeks prior to the threats. Despite the initial disciplinary action, his behavior reportedly escalated, culminating in the explicit threats delivered via email. Following the receipt of the email, police intervened and arrested the student “under dramatic circumstances” at a studio location in Klimentská Street, according to witnesses cited in the report.
While FAMU administration informed students and staff of the situation via email shortly after the arrest, some employees claim the school failed to adequately warn the community in a timely manner. One employee, speaking anonymously due to a reported directive from school leadership prohibiting communication with the press, stated, “There was someone at the school threatening murder, potentially dangerous, even armed. But only a few people from the dean’s office knew, and they kept it to themselves and didn’t send out a mass SMS.” Another source confirmed the existence of a “ban on speaking to journalists,” citing fear of “significant repercussions” for previous colleagues who had challenged school policy.
FAMU spokesperson Klaudia Osičková stated that the school is cooperating with the police investigation and following their guidance regarding external communication. “We have instructions from the police regarding external communication, so we cannot release any information,” she said.
The school possesses a crisis communication system, known as KISS, implemented after a 2023 incident at the Faculty of Philosophy at Charles University in Prague. However, according to one employee, Proděkan Vít Schmarc decided against using the system to avoid causing panic. “He simply told us that the school didn’t want to use it to avoid panic,” the source said.
Despite the lack of a formal warning, some students reported experiencing a brief lockdown in a classroom after a staff member alerted them to a potential threat. “A woman from the staff ran into the classroom and quickly told us that someone potentially dangerous might be in the school. She then locked us in the classroom and ran off,” one student recounted anonymously.
Sources allege that the initial search for the student was conducted by FAMU leadership before police were contacted. “The faculty leadership began searching the building on Smetanovo nábřeží on their own. Only then did they inform the police,” one employee claimed. Proděkan Schmarc disputed this account, stating that the search and police notification occurred simultaneously.
The student has since been released by police, but his status at FAMU remains unclear. Both Osičková and Schmarc declined to comment on the possibility of his expulsion, citing the ongoing investigation.
Some FAMU employees are considering legal action against the school’s administration, alleging violations of safety regulations. Concerns have also been raised regarding the lack of a comprehensive access control system, with one employee noting that individuals are not routinely required to sign in upon entering school buildings.