As dawn broke over Prague on Friday, the lights continued to glow within the Arts Faculty, where a grim crime scene unfolded overnight.
While the police cordon has been lifted, the Charles University building stands as a poignant reminder of the worst mass shooting in Czech history, with the removal of the 14th victim’s body marking a somber morning.
Meanwhile, across town, a makeshift shrine has emerged at the gates of another university building, honoring the 14 staff and students who lost their lives.
Amidst falling sleet, a gathering of mainly young individuals, including university and school students, pays tribute by leaving small candles and flowers on the cobblestones.
Lucy, holding a significant bunch of white roses, expresses, “It’s the least we can do.” She recounts being at the law faculty just a couple of hundred meters away when the shooting commenced.
She shares, “They locked up and told us not to leave. There were lots of emergency cars and police. We didn’t really know what was going on. Now, all we are talking about is that it could have been anybody. It could have been my friends. Anyone could have been a victim, and that’s horrifying.”