PRAGUE, Czech Republic – The Czech Republic held a national day of mourning on Saturday, observing a minute of silence at noon after a mass shooting at a Prague university left 15 people dead, including the shooter.

The shooting, carried out by a 24-year-old student, is now believed to have also resulted in the deaths of his father on the same day, as well as a man and a baby last week. This tragic event marks a rare occurrence of mass shootings in the Czech Republic.

Flags on public buildings flew at half-staff, and a special Mass for the victims was held at St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague, attended by Czech President Petr Pavel and other high-ranking officials. The country also mourned the victims with religious services in various cities and towns.

Christmas markets in several locations were closed or reduced their programs, and other pre-Christmas events were canceled in light of the tragedy. Mourners gathered at the university buildings to lay flowers and light candles in remembrance of the victims.

The shooter opened fire at the Charles University Faculty of Arts, where he was a student, killing 13 people and injuring 25 others. He later took his own life, with one of the wounded victims succumbing to their injuries in the hospital.

Investigations are ongoing, and no link to extremist ideology or groups has been suspected. The motive for the shooting remains unclear. This incident has brought attention to the rarity of mass shootings in the Czech Republic, with previous notable occurrences in 2015 and 2019.

The country has been united in mourning, with an outpouring of support and remembrance for the victims of this tragic event.