Life in the Czech metropolis came to a standstill at mid-day on Monday as Czechs joined millions of Europeans in observing a minute of silence for the victims of the terrorist attacks in Paris. Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka said the attacks amounted to a declaration of war and that the Czech Republic was prepared to assist the destruction of the Islamic State to the best of its abilities. He also said the attacks were a wake-up call for the EU to shore-up its outer borders and start taking security issues seriously.