White roses, candles and a minute’s silence: the Czech Republic mourns the 14 dead after the gun attack on Thursday. St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague was full at the memorial service.
At the memorial service, students brought a white rose to the front of the altar for each of the 14 people killed in the shooting. The mass in Prague’s St. Vitus Cathedral, the largest church in the Czech Republic, was the focus of the day of mourning that prevails in the country today.
The sermon was given by Archbishop Jan Graubner: “The events that have affected us take our breath away and leave us with many question marks that scream into the empty silence of our hearts. And we cannot find an answer to them.”
St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague was full. President Petr Pavel was present at the memorial service, as were relatives of the victims and numerous Prague residents who wanted to express their condolences.
Public buildings with black flags
The prayers were presented by students from the Faculty of Philosophy. Survivors of the massacre – like this student: “We pray for those injured in body and soul, who have felt the touch of evil and are now struggling with the consequences, that they can find healing, forgive and find peace in their hearts.”
At 12 p.m., all bells rang throughout the Czech Republic to mark the beginning of a minute’s silence. All over the country, public buildings are covered in black flags and memorials have been set up in front of all universities in the Czech Republic. Many people place candles or flowers there in memory of the victims. Czech television has changed its programming. It broadcasts live from these memorial sites and from the service.
Places are particularly heavily guarded
25 people injured in the shooting spree, some of them seriously, are still being treated in Prague hospitals. Most of them are now out of danger, according to the emergency services.
Police announced that several people had been arrested in the Czech Republic who had announced similar acts on social media or made glorifying comments about the rampage. Across the country, public buildings and squares will be particularly heavily guarded until January to prevent copycat acts.