A national moment of silence took place in the Czech Republic today for the victims of a mass shooting in Charles University, Prague. 

A moment’s silence took place in the city, followed by a requiem in St Vitus Cathedral in Prague at 11am today. 

Another moment’s silence will take place at 3pm today. 

Some 14 died in the shooting, including one who fell to her death while hiding from the shooter on a window ledge. 

Some 25 people were also injured in the shooting.

The gunman, David Kozak, is reported to have shot himself before he could be apprehended by police. 

'Blood all over the place'

Hundreds of students and staff hid from the shooter in the university buildings, including lecturer Sergei Medvedev. 

“We took all the desks and chairs towards the door to block the entrance,” he said. 

“An hour later, the Special Forces broke in, laid us all on the floor and searched us rather 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." 

He said the students behaved “bravely” and “calmly”. 

"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,” he said. 

Increased security in Prague

A 24-year-old student, Kozak is reported to have killed his father earlier in the day in a town bordering Prague.  

There are now links being made between the shooter and a double homicide that happened in east Prague last week. 

Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan said security in Prague and the Czech Republic has stepped up. 

“There is a risk of imitation and that's a risk that Czech police is not underestimating,” he said. 

“That is why the special measures increased measures, which will continue throughout the Christmas holidays, will continue until January 1st.”