Prague commemorates university shooting victims with concert, mass

Candles are lit at a memorial service in front of Charles University's Faculty of Arts building in Prague, the Czech Republic, on Dec. 21, 2024. A benefit concert, memorial service and mass were held Saturday in Prague to commemorate the victims of the shooting tragedy at the university's Faculty of Arts one year ago. On Dec. 21 last year, a gunman killed 14 people at the university's Faculty of Arts building before committing suicide. An additional 25 people were injured. Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan called the shooting "a terrible act, unprecedented in the history of the Czech Republic." (Photo by Dana Kesnerova/Xinhua)

PRAGUE, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- A benefit concert, memorial service and mass were held Saturday in Prague to commemorate the victims of the shooting tragedy at Charles University's Faculty of Arts one year ago.

Czech President Petr Pavel, along with the victims' families and survivors, attended the benefit concert in the afternoon at the Church of the Holy Saviour in central Prague.

According to Charles University, the concert, titled "A Year Later," aimed to support a non-profit organization dedicated to the mental health of children and adolescents.

Following the concert, participants and members of the public gathered for a memorial service in front of the university's Faculty of Arts building, the site of last December's tragedy.

The service began with a moment of silence in remembrance of the deceased, after which attendance laid flowers and lit candles. The university choir performed during the memorial service.

Later in the day, a mass was held in the St. Vitus Cathedral at Prague Castle.

In the evening, President Pavel said on social media platform X: "I firmly hope that we will never go through this experience, shock, and grief again as a society and a country. I remember it with deep respect."

On Dec. 21 last year, a gunman killed 14 people at the Charles University's Faculty of Arts building before committing suicide. An additional 25 people were injured. Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan called the shooting "a terrible act, unprecedented in the history of the Czech Republic." ■

People light candles during a memorial service in front of Charles University's Faculty of Arts building in Prague, the Czech Republic, on Dec. 21, 2024. A benefit concert, memorial service and mass were held Saturday in Prague to commemorate the victims of the shooting tragedy at the university's Faculty of Arts one year ago.

On Dec. 21 last year, a gunman killed 14 people at the university's Faculty of Arts building before committing suicide. An additional 25 people were injured. Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan called the shooting "a terrible act, unprecedented in the history of the Czech Republic." (Photo by Dana Kesnerova/Xinhua)

A man lays flowers during a memorial service in front of Charles University's Faculty of Arts building in Prague, the Czech Republic, on Dec. 21, 2024. A benefit concert, memorial service and mass were held Saturday in Prague to commemorate the victims of the shooting tragedy at the university's Faculty of Arts one year ago.

On Dec. 21 last year, a gunman killed 14 people at the university's Faculty of Arts building before committing suicide. An additional 25 people were injured. Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan called the shooting "a terrible act, unprecedented in the history of the Czech Republic." (Photo by Dana Kesnerova/Xinhua)

A man lights a candle during a memorial service in front of Charles University's Faculty of Arts building in Prague, the Czech Republic, on Dec. 21, 2024. A benefit concert, memorial service and mass were held Saturday in Prague to commemorate the victims of the shooting tragedy at the university's Faculty of Arts one year ago.

On Dec. 21 last year, a gunman killed 14 people at the university's Faculty of Arts building before committing suicide. An additional 25 people were injured. Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan called the shooting "a terrible act, unprecedented in the history of the Czech Republic." (Photo by Dana Kesnerova/Xinhua)

A child places a candle during a memorial service in front of Charles University's Faculty of Arts building in Prague, the Czech Republic, on Dec. 21, 2024. A benefit concert, memorial service and mass were held Saturday in Prague to commemorate the victims of the shooting tragedy at the university's Faculty of Arts one year ago.

On Dec. 21 last year, a gunman killed 14 people at the university's Faculty of Arts building before committing suicide. An additional 25 people were injured. Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan called the shooting "a terrible act, unprecedented in the history of the Czech Republic." (Photo by Dana Kesnerova/Xinhua)