Czech Republic Mourns Victims of Prague University Shooting
The Czech Republic mourned on Saturday as church bells tolled and flags were lowered in honor of the victims of a horrific shooting at Charles University in Prague.
On Thursday, a 24-year-old student opened fire in the Faculty of Arts, killing 14 and injuring 24, including three foreign nationals, before committing suicide. The attack caused panic, with students fleeing for their lives, some resorting to jumping from rooftops to escape.
To show respect, the nation paused for a minute at noon for the victims, reflecting on the tragedy. At the symbolic St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague Archbishop Jan Graubner lamented the existence of evil amidst humanity's hopes. The emotionally charged service was attended by notable figures, including President Petr Pavel, and mourners were visibly distraught.
Charles University's rector, Milena Kralickova, expressed the irreplaceable loss of each individual, while the arts faculty grieved for their director, Lenka Hlavkova. Throughout Prague and other cities, thousands have paid their respects at memorials with candle tributes.
At one mass, students honored the lives lost, including the gunman and others he had killed previously—another young man and his infant daughter in a forest, and his own father. A manhunt had been launched but failed to intercept the gunman at the university.
Following the massacre, the police confirmed the gunman's weapon matched one from another incident. The incident, taking place in Prague's historic center, is the nation's deadliest since 1993. Global figures, from Pope Francis to US President Joe Biden, have expressed condolences.
The tragedy has deeply resonated with locals, highlighting the rarity of such events in a country ranked highly for safety. Previous shooting incidents in 2015 and 2019 are reminders that although uncommon, the Czech Republic is not immune to such violence.
To show respect, the nation paused for a minute at noon for the victims, reflecting on the tragedy. At the symbolic St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague Archbishop Jan Graubner lamented the existence of evil amidst humanity's hopes. The emotionally charged service was attended by notable figures, including President Petr Pavel, and mourners were visibly distraught.
Charles University's rector, Milena Kralickova, expressed the irreplaceable loss of each individual, while the arts faculty grieved for their director, Lenka Hlavkova. Throughout Prague and other cities, thousands have paid their respects at memorials with candle tributes.
At one mass, students honored the lives lost, including the gunman and others he had killed previously—another young man and his infant daughter in a forest, and his own father. A manhunt had been launched but failed to intercept the gunman at the university.
Following the massacre, the police confirmed the gunman's weapon matched one from another incident. The incident, taking place in Prague's historic center, is the nation's deadliest since 1993. Global figures, from Pope Francis to US President Joe Biden, have expressed condolences.
The tragedy has deeply resonated with locals, highlighting the rarity of such events in a country ranked highly for safety. Previous shooting incidents in 2015 and 2019 are reminders that although uncommon, the Czech Republic is not immune to such violence.
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