The Czech Republic paused at noon on Saturday to honor the victims of Thursday’s mass killing, which claimed the lives of 14 people and sparked questions about the shooter’s motive. Throughout the country, people participated in a minute of silence, and public buildings flew their national flags at half-staff while bells tolled at noon. President Petr Pavel and speakers of both houses of Parliament attended a Mass at St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague, which was filled to capacity with attendees.
Archbishop Jan Graubner of Prague expressed the need to look forward, while Charles University rector Milena Kralickova made remarks emphasizing the importance of not letting people feel alone during tough times. The shooting took place at the university’s Faculty of Arts, and 25 others were injured before the gunman took his own life. Investigators have found evidence the shooter also killed his father earlier that day, and another man and a baby in Prague the previous week.
Religious services were held in other cities and towns, and in several locations, Christmas markets reduced their activities or closed altogether due to increased security measures. At a makeshift memorial in front of the university headquarters, Senator Milos Vystrcil acknowledged the experience as a traumatic one, but recognized that it pales in comparison to what the victims had to endure and what their loved ones are currently going through. The identities of the 14 fatalities are being slowly confirmed. Among them were two staff members of the university, including the head of the Institute of Music Sciences, Lenka Hlávková, and first-year student Lucie Špindlerová.
The shooter was a Czech student at the Faculty of Arts, and authorities do not suspect any links to extremist ideology or groups. While they believe he acted alone, his motive remains unclear.