Czech Republic holds national day of mourning after worst mass killing

Czech Republic holds national day of mourning after worst mass killing

National flags on public buildings had been at half-staff and bells tolled at midday (10pm AEDT).

A Mass at St. Vitus cathedral in Prague, the largest within the nation, was celebrated for the victims.

Mourners attend memorial service for the victims of Philosophical Faculty of Charles University shooting in the St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023.
Mourners attend memorial service for the victims of Philosophical Faculty of Charles University capturing within the St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Mourners attend memorial service for the victims of Philosophical Faculty of Charles University shooting in the St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023.
Mourners attend memorial service for the victims of Philosophical Faculty of Charles University capturing within the St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

President Petr Pavel and audio system of each homes of Parliament attended the service that was open to everybody.

“We’re all still in a shock in our own ways,” Prague archbishop Jan Graubner stated.

“We need to clearly condemn what happened but we also need to look into the future.”

“Nobody should be left alone in these tough moments,” Charles University rector Milena Kralickova stated in her remarks towards the top of the Mass.

President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel arrives for the memorial service for the victims of Philosophical Faculty of Charles University shooting in Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023.
President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel arrives for the memorial service for the victims of Philosophical Faculty of Charles University capturing in Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Mourners hug in front of the building of Philosophical Faculty of Charles University in downtown Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023
Mourners hug in entrance of the constructing of Philosophical Faculty of Charles University in downtown Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023 (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

The capturing contained in the college’s Faculty of Arts on Thursday killed 14 folks.

Similar non secular companies had been held in different cities and cities, whereas Christmas markets in quite a few locations had been closed or decreased their packages amid boosted safety measures.

The capturing within the college on the coronary heart of the Czech capital additionally wounded 25 folks earlier than the gunman killed himself.

Police and prosecutors stated they’ve proof the 24-year-old shooter additionally killed his father earlier within the day and a person and a child in Prague final week.

A sea of candles was shining at an impromptu memorial for the victims created in entrance of the college headquarters.

A young woman reacts by the floral tributes and candles left outside the headquarters of Charles University in downtown Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023.
A younger girl reacts by the floral tributes and candles left exterior the headquarters of Charles University in downtown Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)
A woman lays a flower outside the building of Philosophical Faculty of Charles University following a mass shooting earlier this week, on December 23, 2023 in Prague, Czech Republic.
A lady lays a flower exterior the constructing of Philosophical Faculty of Charles University following a mass capturing earlier this week, on December 23, 2023 in Prague, Czech Republic. (Gabriel Kuchta/Getty Images)

“It’s been a horrible experience for us all but it still can’t be compared with what the victims had to experience at the time of the attack and what their dear ones have to experience now,” stated Milos Vystrcil, speaker of Parliament’s higher home, the Senate, a kind of who got here to mild a candle.

“I think that to help them at this point we express our support and that’s what we’re all doing now.”

The names of the 14 individuals who died are slowly being launched.

The college confirmed two employees members had been amongst them, together with the top of the Institute of Music Sciences, Lenka Hlávková.

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First-year pupil Lucie Spindlerova was one other, stated the Lidove noviny each day, the place she additionally labored.

The shooter was Czech and a pupil on the Faculty of Arts.

Investigators don’t suspect a hyperlink to any extremist ideology or teams. Officials stated they believed he acted alone. His motive shouldn’t be but clear.

Previously, the nation’s worst mass capturing was in 2015, when a gunman opened fireplace within the southeastern city of Uhersky Brod, killing eight earlier than fatally capturing himself.

Source: www.9news.com.au