Czechs mark anniversary of tragic shooting with concert, commemorative ceremony and mass

Czechia on Saturday marked the first anniversary of the tragic shooting at the Faculty of Arts of Charles University in Prague, which left 14 dead and 25 injured. On December 21, 2023, one of the faculty’s own students went on a rampage in the faculty’s main building shooting students and staff at random before committing suicide on the roof of the building.

The anniversary was marked by numerous events. A concert in memory of the victims was held in the Church of St. Salvatore. Although it was for invited guests only, it was broadcast live on Czech Radio and Czech Television. From St. Salvatore, a silent procession marched down Křižovnická Street to the Faculty of Arts on Jan Palach Square, where a commemoration ceremony took place at a memorial site to the victims. It was attended, among others by the Rector of Charles University Milena Králíčková and the Dean of the Faculty of Arts Eva Lehečková.

After a minute of silence for the victims, participants  lit 14 lanterns for those killed in the shooting to the sound of the university choir. The culmination of Saturday's commemorative events will be a mass for the victims of the shooting in St Vitus Cathedral, celebrated by Zdenek Wasserbauer, canon of the Metropolitan Chapter and auxiliary bishop of Prague. The mass begins at 6 pm and is open to the public.