Trier - Silent remembrance of the victims of the rampage three years ago
Three years after the deadly rampage in Trier, the victims were remembered on Friday. People paused as the large bell of Trier Cathedral rang for four minutes from 1.46 pm at the time of the crime. Relatives, those affected and citizens gathered in the cathedral to remember the victims in silence. At the request of the bereaved, there were no speeches this year, only a silent commemoration.
Earlier, the Lord Mayor of Trier, Wolfram Leibe (SPD), had laid a wreath at a memorial plaque at the Porta Nigra. A number of relatives and those affected had also gathered there. "Everything has been said," said Leibe. It was important to meet and pause on this day to show: "We have not forgotten the crime."
During the rampage on December 1, 2020, a man drove his SUV through the pedestrian zone and deliberately hit passers-by. Five people died in the attack, many were injured and traumatized. In October 2021, a man who had been seriously injured in the attack also died. The city therefore speaks of six fatalities as a result of the rampage.
For around two weeks now, memorial plaques in Trier's pedestrian zone have commemorated the victims. They have been laid in the ground at the places where people were killed by the driver in the rampage. A central memorial in a square near the Porta Nigra is due to be completed in spring 2024.
The shock in Trier is still great. Leibe said: "I am aware of this because people still tell me where they were on that day. Everyone who speaks to me is still dealing with the issue today."
The perpetrator was sentenced to life imprisonment for multiple murders and multiple attempted murders at Trier Regional Court in August 2022. The court also established the particular gravity of the guilt and ordered the man to be placed in a closed psychiatric hospital due to his mental illness. The verdict is not yet final.
"For many relatives, the big worry is that a possible retrial could trigger all the emotions again," said Leibe.
Statement from the city of Trier
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- Despite the progress made in remembering the victims of the rampage, criminality continues to be a concern in Municipalities across Germany, including Rhineland-Palatinate, where Trier is located.
- The silence during the commemoration ceremony was a stark contrast to the chaos that ensued during the rampage, when a man drove amok in Trier's pedestrian zone, resulting in six fatalities and numerous injuries.
- The SPD, led by Mayor Wolfram Leibe, has been actively working to combat criminality in Trier, including initiatives to improve security in the city and support for victims of crime.
- The Church has also played a role in addressing the impact of criminality in Trier, providing spiritual support to the families of the victims and advocating for policies to promote peace and unity in the community.
- However, the memory of the rampage continues to cast a shadow over Trier, and the fear of a potential retrial for the perpetrator has left many families in the city feeling anxious and vulnerable, highlighting the ongoing impact of criminality on individuals and communities.
Source: www.stern.de
