Czechia observes day of mourning for victims of mass shooting in Prague

The Czech Republic will unite today in remembering the victims of the shocking mass shooting that took place in Prague on Thursday, sending shockwaves through the nation. In honor of the victims, national flags on state and public buildings will be flown at half-mast and will remain lowered until Christmas Day.

Prime Minister Petr Fiala has called upon citizens to pay tribute to the fallen by observing a minute of silence at 12:00 p.m. Church bells will also ring out across the country at noon in honor of the victims.

Throughout the day, clergy will conduct requiem masses to honor the victims of the tragic shooting. From 11 a.m., Prague Archbishop Jan Graubner will preside over a mass in St. Vitus Cathedral at Prague Castle. Czech President Petr Pavel and other leaders are expected to attend.

Similar services will be held in various cities, including Pilsen, Brno, Hradec Králové, Ostrava, and Olomouc.

The traditional singing of Jakub Jan Ryba's Czech Christmas Mass at Prague's Hlavní nádraží will be altered to pay tribute to the victims. The program will include renditions of Mozart's Requiem, Prayer for Marta, and other songs chosen to honor the memory of those who lost their lives.

Across the Czech Republic, numerous cities have decided to cancel or alter planned holiday and Advent events this weekend, and theaters and concert venues have also rescheduled or canceled performances.

In a show of solidarity, shops will also observe the minute of silence, suspending service and sales at noon. The Trade and Tourism Association of the Czech Republic has called upon customers to join in honoring the victims with a moment of reflection.

This declaration of national mourning marks a somber occasion, as it is the first time since February 2020, following the passing of President of the Senate Jaroslav Kubera, that the Czech Republic has observed a national day of mourning. The nation also mourned renowned singer Karel Gott following his death in 2019.

Before that, a three-day state mourning was declared in December 2011 to commemorate the late President Václav Havel, and a two-day mourning period followed the tragic plane crash near Smolensk in April 2010, which claimed the life of Polish President Lech Kaczyński and other Polish representatives.

As the nation unites in grief, resources and support are available for those affected by the tragedy. Charles University has set up an Endowment Fund for donations to those affected by the tragedy, and individuals seeking assistance can reach out to various organizations providing counseling and mental health services.