Around two and a half weeks after the killing spree at Jehovah's Witnesses in Hamburg, which left eight dead, thousands of representatives of the faith community commemorated the victims of the crime. According to Jehovah's Witnesses, up to 4,000 believers gathered today at a funeral service in the Alsterdorf sports hall.

In addition to relatives and the survivors, more than 50 Hamburg communities were invited by Jehovah's Witnesses as well as representatives from politics and authorities - including Mayor Peter Tschentscher (SPD).

After a musical introduction, Dirk Ciupek from the Central Europe branch wanted to give the memorial address. Mark Sanderson from the world headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses should also have his say. Mayor Tschentscher also wanted to speak.

He read a message from Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. "Today we commemorate the victims of a serious crime," Steinmeier said. The victims were part of the community of Jehovah's Witnesses - "and above all they were sons, wives, husbands, brothers, loved ones, friends, companions". Steinmeier said the victims' lives had been taken by a barbaric act. "This merciless act leaves behind only loss, grief and destruction."

Not the first commemoration

The Christian churches had already commemorated the victims with an ecumenical event last Sunday in the main church of St. Petri. With the cross-faith commemoration event, the Hamburg churches wanted to give the mourning space and donate consolation and care. Jehovah's Witnesses supported the commemoration but did not attend the funeral service themselves.

The 35-year-old Philipp F. killed seven people at a community meeting of Jehovah's Witnesses in Hamburg - including an unborn child. He then killed himself. Nine people were injured in the shooting.