There is snow billowing across the coronary heart of Prague and the skies are darkish and threatening. But a small crowd of persons are merely standing, and staring.
They are trying on the flickering candles and flowers which were left in entrance of the Charles University constructing, a memorial to those that got here right here and had been killed in probably the most brutal approach.
From by way of the clouds of snow, Sergei Medvedev crosses the street, a thick gray woolen hat on his head and a bunch of flowers in his hand.
He is right here to pay his personal respects, however Sergei isn’t merely sympathetic to the struggling of others. He was there. Right there.
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Sergei is a professor on the college, in addition to a radio broadcaster. He is fluent and considerate; it is not onerous to see why he has prospered as a tutorial.
Yesterday, he was giving a lecture on the constructing’s third flooring (“that corner over there,” he says, pointing) when he heard discordant noises.
He handed it off as a passing distraction. But then got here the police sirens, and the creeping sense of hazard.
“There was shouting within the hall, sirens all over the place, and we realised that one thing was unsuitable. We regarded out and the entire sq. had been cleared; there have been police far and wide.
“Then there were shots and we understood it was some kind of a terrorist act. So we blocked ourselves inside the auditorium; we took all the desks and chairs towards the doors to lock the doors.
“We turned out the lights and tried to keep away from the doorways.
“At one point the special forces broke in, checked the room, then left. Then there was further shouting and shooting.
“Then an hour later the particular forces got here in for a second time, lay us on the ground and. Searched us fairly gently.
“They took us out of the building walking down the stairs. There was blood all over the place – blood on the stairs, blood on the steps.”
It is a terrifying image that he paints, but right here he appears to be like composed.
“Everyone stayed calm. Everyone behaved bravely,” he says, thoughtfully.
“There were a couple of dozen students in that room and I knew that I was responsible for them. When we ran, when we saw the blood – you don’t reflect on it then.
“You have your arms in your head and you might be working for security. It’s like seeing a film of your self. You simply preserve taking the following step. You preserve shifting.”
He is satisfied that Prague will come collectively within the wake of this terrible tragedy, however admits it is a shock for individuals who have taken with no consideration this metropolis’s popularity for being secure and peaceable.
“We will stand strong,” he insists. And then he’s gone, to put his flowers, look into the flames of candles, and keep in mind those that have died or been injured.
These impromptu memorials have sprung up across the metropolis.
People go away matches or lighters behind, in addition to additional candles, for individuals who got here to admire, however then resolve they wish to be concerned.
And as we stand and watch, you possibly can’t assist however be struck by the variety of individuals sobbing and hugging. The grief is thick within the air, extra determined as a result of it was so stunning.
Giacomo, 20, is right here together with his pal Max, 16. Both are 20 years previous, shaking their heads in disbelief.
“The guy was there,” says Max, gesturing in direction of the balcony the place David Kozak stood and fired out into the road.
“He was shooting – I heard shots with the sniper [rifle] and it was crazy…I’ve never heard someone shooting before.”
Giacomo agrees: “We are very sad that this happened – that so many young people died, especially at Christmas.
“The concept that somebody goes to the varsity and does not come again – it is horrible.”
And it’s a dreadful thought, performed out in probably the most horrible approach.
The nation feels damaged.
Source: information.sky.com”