More than 1,000 people have commemorated the victims of the shooting rampage at Leipzig University. The "martial act", just a stone's throw from the university, "robs us of the lightness of existence", said university preacher Andreas Schöne at a memorial service in the University Church of St. Pauli. "It could have been a good day, then this tear."
Two people died near the university during the rampage on Monday afternoon and others were injured, some of them seriously. Further memorials have been announced for the afternoon at St. Nicholas Church and St. Thomas Church in Leipzig. Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer (CDU) is also expected to attend.
Nearly 700 people had found space in the university church, hundreds stood in front of the open doors and listened emotionally to the prayer, which was transmitted to the corridors. The Rector of the University, Eva Inés Obergfell, thanked the many people who "unhesitatingly acted as first responders, who comforted, stood by and cared for others". This act leaves us speechless, shocks us and shows how vulnerable we are. She offered help to the students and staff at the university. "No one has to remain alone with what they have experienced."
