The Czech Republic solemnly marked a national day of mourning in honor of the victims of its most devastating mass killing. Public buildings displayed flags at half-staff, and citizens observed a minute of silence on Saturday following the tragic shooting inside a university building in Prague. The incident claimed the lives of 14 individuals and left dozens injured.
Evidence suggests that the 24-year-old assailant, who later took his own life as the police closed in, was responsible for additional killings earlier in the day, including his father, and a separate incident in Prague the previous week involving a man and a baby. Across the nation, bells tolled at noon, and religious services, including a Mass at St. Vitus cathedral attended by President Petr Pavel, were held to commemorate the victims.
Enhanced security measures prompted the closure or scaled-back programs of Christmas markets in several locations. Among those expressing condolences was Milos Vystrcil, the speaker of the Senate, who joined others in lighting candles at a makeshift memorial in front of the university headquarters. Vystrcil emphasized the collective support for the victims’ families, acknowledging the profound impact of the tragedy.
The 14 deceased victims, whose names have been gradually released, included university staff members and a first-year student. Lenka Hlavkova, head of the Institute of Music Sciences, and Lucie Spindlerova, a first-year student who also worked at the Lidove noviny daily, were among those identified.
Investigations revealed that the shooter, a Czech student at the Faculty of Arts, acted alone, with no apparent links to extremist ideologies or groups. The motive behind the attack remains unclear. This tragic incident surpasses the nation’s previous worst mass shooting in 2015 in Uhersky Brod, where eight individuals were killed before the gunman took his own life.