2023-12-22 19:25:00
“This is not America, such things don’t happen in the Czech Republic!” : like Richard Smaha, 17, the inhabitants of Prague expressed their shock on Friday the day after the deadly journey of an armed student who left 14 dead at the capital’s university.
“I came to say how sorry I am for the disaster that happened here. It’s something unexpected, nothing like this has ever happened in Prague,” adds this student from a nearby high school, went to pay his respects in front of an improvised memorial at Charles University.
“It’s of course a shock,” he continues in a rapid, choppy voice reflecting his nervousness.
Dozens of people, mostly young people, were gathered in small groups, their faces serious, sometimes in tears, in front of this memorial made up of hundreds of candles and flowers, while the snow and rain alternated with the winter sun in the historic center of the Czech capital.
A heavily armed 24-year-old student shot dead 13 people on Thursday and injured 25 others, one of whom later died in hospital at this prestigious university. The Czech police have ruled out the terrorist hypothesis and are still seeking to understand the motivations of the shooter who according to them was inspired by a shooting that occurred in Russia.
Police officers were still on duty in front of Charles University on Friday, the surrounding areas of which were closed off with warning tape.
“I came to pay tribute to the killed students, also because it could have been any of us,” said Antonin Volavka, a student at a technical university, after lighting a candle.
“Really, it could have been me,” he adds.
“Absolute atrocity”
Julie Grave, a high school student who said she considered studying at Charles University later, said she was deeply affected by the killings.
“It’s absolutely atrocious and, what’s more, just before Christmas!” she exclaims.
Older people, like Jana Mala, a civil servant, say they are just as shocked.
“This is something that has never happened here and it’s a tragedy.”
“When you realize that your children are the same age and that this can happen to anyone anywhere, it’s terrible,” adds this woman.
Monia Camuglia, an Italian teacher living in Prague, present with her daughter, explains that she was very afraid for her friends and colleagues who work at the university, before learning that they were safe. “I was at work and I heard the police sirens, it was unbelievable, I was absolutely shocked.”
Even the head of the Prague police, Martin Vondrasek, who said he was in shock after this shooting which occurred in one of the safest countries in the world according to international rankings.
“I have been serving for 31 years and I have seen a lot,” he told reporters. “But what I saw yesterday was the most terrifying experience of my life.”
12/22/2023 18:20:34 – Prague (AFP) – © 2023 AFP
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