Memorial plaques laid for victims of the Trier rampage
Around three years after the killing spree in Trier, memorial plaques in the pedestrian zone now commemorate the victims. The plaques were laid on Friday at the five places where people were killed by the driver in the rampage. "Each plaque was designed differently in consultation with the families," said Trier's Lord Mayor Wolfram Leibe (SPD) during a tour.
Some have names and dates, others have symbols such as a horse with angel wings, a magnolia or a sun. The elongated bronze plaques, made by Trier artist Guy Charlier, are illuminated by floor floodlights in the dark. Relatives installed the plaques at the sites on Friday. Due to final work, they will only be visible from Monday.
On December 1, 2020, a man on the rampage drove his SUV through the pedestrian zone and deliberately hit people. Five people died in the attack: a nine-week-old baby, its father (45) and three women aged 25, 52 and 73. In October 2021, a 77-year-old man who was seriously injured in the attack also died. The city therefore speaks of six fatalities as a result of the rampage.
This is also the reason why six large steles will be erected in a planned central memorial for the victims of the rampage on a square near the Porta Nigra. The work by the commissioned artist Clas Steinmann is due to be completed in spring 2024, according to reports. Important preparatory work on the square has already been completed.
On the third anniversary of the shooting rampage (December 1), there will be a silent commemoration in the chapel of Trier Cathedral, Leibe announced. In addition, the bells of the cathedral and the churches in the city center would ring again for four minutes from 1:46 p.m. at the time of the crime. "Everything has been said. It's about taking part and pausing," he said.
In August 2022, the perpetrator was sentenced to life imprisonment for multiple murders and multiple attempted murders. The court also established the particular gravity of his guilt and ordered him to be placed in a closed psychiatric hospital due to his mental illness. The verdict is not yet final.
Municipalities across Germany have increased security measures in their pedestrian zones following the Trier rampage, aiming to prevent similar incidents. The local arts scene has also been inspired by this tragic event, with several artists creating works that aim to highlight the importance of community solidarity and peace.
Source: www.dpa.com
