Commemorative service five years after the terrorist attack in Berlin
Created: 12/19/2021, 7:48 PM
People stand at the memorial site.
© Christoph Soeder / dpa
Politicians and relatives of victims held a memorial service on Sunday evening to commemorate the Islamist terrorist attack on the Berlin Christmas market at the Memorial Church five years ago.
At the site of the attack, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier admitted that the state had made mistakes.
"The state has not been able to keep its promise of protection, security and freedom," said Steinmeier.
Berlin - The state "has a duty to correct the mistakes, failures and problems that contributed to the fact that this attack was not prevented," he said.
The attack plunged the bereaved into pain and grief. "The crack of December 19, 2016 divides your life into a before and an after," said Steinmeier. The attack "was aimed at our way of life: in peace, freedom and democracy". You shouldn't let this be taken from you.
Among the participants in the prayer were Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, Berlin's Governing Mayor Michael Müller and his designated successor Franziska Giffey (all SPD).
After the service, a silent commemoration of the memorial on the steps behind the church was planned.
There were numerous wreaths and flowers lying there in the evening.
On the steps were photos of the dead and lit candles.
The name of the 13th victim - a helper who died in October of this year as a result of the long-term effects of his injuries - was also written on the steps.
At 8:02 p.m., the time of the attack, 13 chimes were supposed to remind of the dead.
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On December 19, 2016, an Islamist terrorist drove into the Christmas market in a hijacked truck in the evening.
As a result, 13 people died and dozen were injured.
The assassin fled to Italy, where he was shot by the police.
dpa