The compassionate response of volunteers had already been evident at the start of the year, as they gathered candles brought by people in mourning. These candles, each representing a shared sorrow, were respectfully arranged in front of the Karolinum building, the historic seat of Charles University, embodying a collective commitment to remembering the victims and supporting one another through this profound loss.

Deliberations on the future of these collected candles are underway, led by working groups comprising representatives from the Faculty of Philosophy and the Academy of Arts, Architecture, and Design (UMPRUM), situated alongside the faculty at Palach Square. This collaborative effort aims to determine a fitting and respectful commemoration that reflects the gravity of the tragedy.

As the community grapples with the aftermath, the Faculty of Philosophy building will remain closed throughout January, providing a period of reflection and mourning. Anticipated to resume on February 19, the teaching for the summer semester will mark a significant step forward for the university community, striving to rebuild and heal from the profound impact of the tragedy.

The disturbing chain of events unfolded with the 24-year-old shooter inflicting harm on 14 individuals, leaving an additional 25 injured, some severely, before taking his own life. Further revelations exposed the broader extent of the violence, as the perpetrator was linked to the deaths of a man and a two-month-old infant in the Klánovice Forest on December 15. A chilling confession found in the shooter’s home in Hostoun, Kladno region, serves as a stark reminder of the complex layers surrounding this tragic incident, leaving the community to grapple with grief, shock, and the quest for understanding.