Czech Republic holds day of mourning for Prague shooting

DPA
·2 min read
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Czech President Petr Pavel (L) and Senate Speaker Milos Vystrcil (R) attend a mass commemorating the victims of a shooting at one of Charles University's buildings, as people observe a national mourning day, at St. Vitus Cathedral. Krumphanzl Michal/CTK/dpa
Czech President Petr Pavel (L) and Senate Speaker Milos Vystrcil (R) attend a mass commemorating the victims of a shooting at one of Charles University's buildings, as people observe a national mourning day, at St. Vitus Cathedral. Krumphanzl Michal/CTK/dpa

The Czech Republic held an official day of mourning on Saturday for the victims of the Charles University shooting in Prague earlier in the week.

The country observed a minute of silence at noon (1100 GMT). Flags flew at half-mast on public buildings and black ribbons were attached.

Many pre-Christmas events were cancelled, and state television ran a special programme.

A student opened fire on Thursday afternoon from the main building of the Faculty of Philosophy of Charles University on Jan Palach Square, killing 14 people and injuring 25.

According to Prague police, the gunman, who legally owned a large arsenal, then shot himself. He is believed to have killed his father before the mass shooting in central Prague and a man and his daughter a week ago.

Mourning services were also being held in Prague's St Vitus Cathedral and in other churches. Mourners laid flowers and lit candles in front of the university buildings.

Names of some of those killed have been released, including that of Lenka Hlavkova, head of the university Institute for Musical Studies.

Condolence messages came in from all over the world. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen posted on X: "I express my deepest condolences to the families of the victims and to the Czech people as a whole. We stand and mourn with you."

A person pays respects outside the Philosophical Faculty of Charles University following a mass shooting, during the day of national mourning. Kamaryt Michal/CTK/dpa
A person pays respects outside the Philosophical Faculty of Charles University following a mass shooting, during the day of national mourning. Kamaryt Michal/CTK/dpa
Czech Republic's Senate President Milo Vystreil and other members of the Senate light candles and place flowers at a makeshift memorial in front of the building of the Faculty of Philosophy of Charles University for the victims of the deadly shooting. On Thursday afternoon, a shooter opened fire at a university in central Prague, killing at least 14 people and injuring 25, 10 of whom were critically. Kamaryt Michal/CTK/dpa