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Crime scene at the University of Heidelberg
Photo: Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images
After 18-year-old Nikolai G. shot around in a lecture hall at Heidelberg University and fatally injured a student, a memorial could be created there.
"We are thinking about establishing a permanent place of mourning on campus," said the chairman of the student body, Peter Abelmann, of the "Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung" in Heidelberg.
Abelmann told the newspaper that there was a desire for the crime to be processed.
Many students also wished for a permanent place of mourning.
But there must also be permanent support offers for the students, for many it is the first traumatic experience in their lives.
“And some will remain traumatized.
We won't be able to put the whole thing aside so quickly,” said Abelmann.
Nevertheless, the student representative continued to plead for an open university in Heidelberg.
That such an act would shake the entire academic institution is nothing one can imagine and nothing one wants.
“We can't stop living because of this.
We have to keep going.«
When Nikolai G. walked into the classroom, there were about 30 life science students attending an organic chemistry tutorial.
A 23-year-old died as a result of a shot in the head.
Two other young women, 19 and 20 years old, and a 20-year-old man were slightly injured by gunfire.
After the fact, G. killed himself outside the building.
The background of the act is still unclear.
When examining the perpetrator's chat communication, the investigators have so far been unable to find any indication of a political motive for the crime.
Until the funeral service next Monday, the Faculty of Biosciences is temporarily suspending face-to-face events for students in the first semester, said the responsible dean, Joachim Wittbrodt, of the dpa news agency.
In higher semesters, minutes of silence and times for exchange are planned for courses.
An exam on Wednesday of this week was suspended, and there will be alternative dates for others.
kha/dpa