Czech news in brief for December 23: Saturday's top headlines

An anonymous English speaker reported five bombs at Prague airport, triggering security measures. Police, aided by foreign pyrotechnicians, are on-site investigating explosive systems.

Terminal 2 is being evacuated, as confirmed by witnesses. Airport traffic remains unrestricted as authorities address the potential threat. In a post on X, the airport said that is was fully cooperating with the police and would share more information as soon as available.

Meteorologists warn of persistent windy conditions and heavy snowfall throughout the Christmas holidays in the Czech Republic. Wind gusts reaching up to 70 kilometers per hour are expected, with warnings of stronger gusts in the southwestern part of Bohemia. The windy weather is predicted to continue on Christmas Day and beyond throughout most of the country.

Heavy snowfall is anticipated in the northeastern half of the country, with up to 40 centimeters of new snowfall in the Krkonoše, Jizerské, and Krušné mountain ranges. The combination of wind and snow may lead to elevated river levels and potential flooding. Motorists and residents are advised to exercise caution due to possible complications in transportation and power supply disruptions.

Church bells rang nationwide at noon today in remembrance of the 14 victims of Thursday's tragic shooting at Charles University's Faculty of Philosophy in Prague. People observed a minute of silence, with shops and Prague airport suspending activities. Despite rain, mourners gathered at places of worship near the university.

Senate President Miloš Vystrčil and senators laid wreaths, urging cohesion and support for survivors. The government declared a state of mourning on Saturday, impacting services and public spaces.

The D1 highway in the Czech Republic's Vysočina Region faced a major disruption this morning as a truck skidded across the entire width of the road, halting traffic for four hours. The incident occurred at the 140th kilometer in the direction of Prague during heavy snowfall, leaving road workers grappling with challenging conditions.

Firefighters were also on the front lines, responding to over 200 weather-related incidents including the removal of fallen trees and branches obstructing roads. Road crew described the situation as the worst of this winter. Beyond road issues, the adverse weather has contributed to power outages affecting more than 41,000 locations in the South Bohemian, South Moravian, and Zlín regions.

A consortium led by global fund CVC Capital Partners and Emma Capital, owned by Jiří Šmejc of the PPF Group, has acquired Packeta, the Czech company behind Zásilkovna. CVC will hold a majority stake of 65%, with Emma Capital owning the remaining 35%. The purchase price remains undisclosed.

Packeta, operating in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, and Germany, faced a public sale after a shareholder decision in May. The transaction awaits approval from the European Union's competition authorities. With joint management, the new owners aim to propel Zásilkovna as a significant player in the European market.

Vít Krejčí has rejoined the NBA after signing with the Atlanta Hawks. The announcement was made by the Hawks on their website, providing no further details about the terms of the contract. Krejčí, aged 23 and hailing from Strakonice, previously played for Atlanta last season before being waived in August.

After an unsuccessful attempt to secure a spot on the Minnesota roster, he played for the Iowa Wolves in the lower G-League, contributing significantly in his first game after recovering from thumb surgery. Krejčí is the fifth Czech player to play in the NBA, joining the ranks of Jiří Zídek Jr., Jiří Welsch, Jan Veselý, and Tomáš Satoranský.

Today, the Czech Republic mourns the Charles University Faculty of Arts building shooting victims, declaring a national day of mourning all day. Flags from administrative and other buildings will fly at half-mast and bells nationwide will ring at noon, when people will observe a one-minute silence. The tragedy claimed 14 lives, leaving 25 injured. The perpetrator, a 24-year-old student, took his own life. 

Memorial events and religious services honor the victims, with a funeral mass at St. Vitus Cathedral attended by President Petr Pavel. Similar services occur across the country, including in Brno and Ostrava cathedrals. Advent events, Christmas market programs, and sports fixtures have been changed, postponed, or canceled as a mark of respect.

Following Thursday’s shooting at Charles University’s Faculty of Arts, the police have handed the building back to Charles University after completing all inspections. Rector Milena Králíčková announced potential plans for diverse security measures across Charles University buildings, focusing also on student residences. "Charles University has 17 faculties, almost 200 buildings, so the measures will be individual depending on what kind of buildings they are, whether they are modern or historical ones," Králíčková said.

The meeting touched upon the installation of door frame metal detectors, but so far there is no consensus among the rectors on this, she added. In January, senior members of Charles University management plan to meet Education Minister Mikuláš Bek to address safety measures further.

Authorities have now named young athlete Klára Holcová as among the deceased following the Prague mass shootings. Czech Athletics confirmed the news via social media site X. She was a shotput thrower and winner of nine medals in domestic athletics championships.

Other officially named victims are Charles University’s Institute of Musicology Director Lenka Hlávková and proofreader of Czech news site Lidové noviny Lucie Špindlerová. Czech news site Seznam Zprávy has also named students Magdalena Křístková and Aneta Richterová, both in their early 20s, as among those dead.

Police last night responded to a threat involving a man brandishing what appeared to be a grenade at Prague's I.P. Pavlova. The situation led to traffic halts and tram diversions, with witnesses recounting police neutralizing three individuals before discovering the “grenade” was a dummy. No arrests were made, clarified police spokesman Jan Daněk. Trams were rerouted, and the public was not allowed to enter I.P. Pavlova metro station – metros also did not stop there. Operations were resumed by 20:45. 

Following the recent Prague shooting Czech police implemented precautionary measures across the country, focusing on vulnerable areas like schools, hospitals, and events drawing large crowds. The country will see heightened police and security measures until Jan. 1, 2024.

Prague Airport is facing challenges with strong winds and snow, causing flight disruptions. Passengers encountered last night multiple delays and cancellations due to adverse weather conditions.

Václav Havel Airport advises travelers to check their airline's website for updates. This morning, one flight to Frankfurt was canceled. The public can also check the official airport website for the latest departure information.

Heavy snowfall of about 20 centimeters in the Vysočína has caused "chaos with impassable roads and a blocked D1 highway on the 140th kilometer towards Prague due to a truck accident. Northern Bohemia faced road complications from snow, fallen trees, and water, disrupting traffic flow. 

Over 41,000 power points also lost electricity overnight in areas like South Bohemia, South Moravia, Zlín, and the highlands due to adverse weather. This has left tens of thousands of households in the areas without electricity this morning. Meteorologists warn of further heavy snow followed by rain in parts. A mix of rain and snow is expected in the capital throughout the vast majority of today.