The festive atmosphere in Prague has been shattered as Czechs grapple with the aftermath of the largest mass shooting in the country since the World War II era. On Thursday, Dec. 21, a 24-year-old gunman opened fire at Prague’s Charles University, resulting in the tragic loss of 14 lives and leaving dozens injured.
Eyewitness Ivo Havranek shared his disbelief, stating, “I went through the crowd not realizing what actually was really going on, because, as probably like a lot of people, I wasn’t ready to admit that something like that could happen in Prague.”
Mourners have gathered around hundreds of candles and flowers outside the sealed-off university, expressing their sorrow for the victims. The government responded by declaring a day of national mourning, leading to the cancellation of major sporting events scheduled before Christmas.
Police officials have released body cam footage of the event in hopes of debunking misinformation spreading online.
Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan noted these rumors can be hurtful to family.
“It is the rumors and lies that need to be called out,” Rakusan said. “Yesterday, somebody told a hurtful lie to the families of police officers about officers being injured or even shot. Another piece of information, which is the folklore of the disinformation scene of the last year, year and a half, is that everything bad is Ukrainian. Does the perpetrator have any connection to Ukraine? He doesn’t. He’s a born Czech who grew up in a Czech family.”
On Saturday, bells will toll across the Czech Republic as the country observes a moment of silence in memory of the victims.
Despite the widespread grief, Prague has refrained from immediate calls for stricter gun laws. Instead, the focus remains on remembrance and unity in the face of tragedy.
Mourner Robert Hanus emphasized, “In the end, not only the people from the street but everybody should just get together and say, don’t let this be normal.”
The national police identified the victims. Their names have not been released. The nation remains in mourning as it navigates the aftermath of this devastating incident.
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