Dear colleagues, dear students,

in connection with the tragic events that took place today at the Faculty of Arts of Charles University and which resulted in a number of lost and ruined lives, together with the management of the Faculty of Arts, we express our deepest condolences to all the survivors who lost their loved ones, and our thoughts are now with those close to us, those who are now fighting for their lives.

We would also like to take this opportunity to express our great gratitude to all those who contributed to preventing greater loss of life, to the components of the integrated rescue system and to all the paramedics who are now caring for our wounded in hospitals.

We are aware that this extreme and extremely serious situation has had a heavy impact not only on the entire academic community of Charles University, but also on the general public in the Czech Republic and abroad. Therefore, Charles University now offers all its students and employees an extended spectrum of support in the form of psychological help in counseling centers and here.

The management of Charles University, as well as the management of the Faculty of Arts, dealt with the situation from the first moment in cooperation with the security forces within the quickly established crisis team. It also recommended canceling tomorrow’s (Friday 12/22/2023) university events, including classes, for religious reasons. In Karolinum (Ovocný trh 3, Prague) a place of worship was established by the fountain, a typical place for students and employees to meet.

The endowment fund of Charles University also announced a fundraiser to support the families of the victims, teachers, students affected by the shooting at the Faculty of Arts . You can contribute HERE.

The level of violence that occurred today at Charles University is absolutely new and completely shocking for our academic community and for the Czech Republic. So let us stand together in these difficult times. We ask everyone to try to keep their composure and calm, and again our condolences to all who have been heartbroken by the loss of loved ones.

We are with you all in these difficult times and we thank you very much for your support so far and in the future.

For the entire leadership of Charles University and the Faculty of Arts, Charles University,

Milena Králíčková, rector of the UK and Eva Lehečková, dean of the Faculty of Arts

(Prague, 21/12/2023, 22:40)