A memorial plaque engraved with the names of the victims of the shooting at the Faculty of Arts of Charles University in December 2023 was unveiled on Sunday on Jan Palach Square in Prague.

The plaque completed the temporary monument erected earlier this year, with adjustments made to the surrounding area to create a space of quiet reflection.

The unveiling ceremony included speeches, a remembrance concert on the steps of the Rudolfinum, and moments of silence for both relatives and the public.

Among those present were Charles University rector Milena Králíčková, Faculty of Arts dean Eva Lehečková, and members of the team behind the memorial’s design.

The three-meter sculpture facing the faculty building was presented in June 2024. It included a QR code linking to personal tributes on the faculty’s website.

The addition of the plaque had been planned since last year, following requests from bereaved families. “The monument was always intended as a temporary memorial,” said spokesperson Bumba. “By engraving the names, and redesigning the surrounding space, we aimed to ensure it would become a dignified place for remembrance.”

The December 21, 2023, shooting remained the deadliest of its kind in Czech history.

Fourteen students and staff members lost their lives when a 24-year-old student opened fire inside the faculty.

Police later confirmed that the perpetrator had also killed his father and, days earlier, a man and a two-month-old child in the Klánovice Forest near Prague. The attacker took his own life after the rampage.

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