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Hanau (dpa / lhe) - A good year after the racially motivated attack with nine dead, the relatives of the victims have decided not to use the Brothers Grimm monument in downtown Hanau as a memorial site any longer.
In a letter published on Wednesday, the relatives announced that they would remove the pictures of the dead from the memorial in the market square.
On March 19, this step will jointly set an example, the relatives said in the letter that the city published.
"This is certainly not easy for us, as it shows us how quickly time flies and how great the pain and sadness about our loss continues to be."
Nevertheless, it is the right step.
"Because we are sure: Hanau will not forget us!"
On February 19, 2020, a 43-year-old German shot and killed nine people for racist motives in the city in the Rhine-Main area, before presumably killing his mother and ultimately himself.
For the anniversary, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Hesse's Prime Minister Volker Bouffier (CDU) took part in a commemorative event.
"We would like to thank everyone who supported us around the difficult anniversary of February 19, 21st and expressed their solidarity with us," said the letter.
«It was definitely not an easy year.
For nobody in Hanau.
The fact that we can still feel the strength of the Hanau residents to this day has often helped us on difficult days.
Hanau stand together is not just a slogan, it is lived in this city. "
Of course, "one or the other critical voice, relativization or bad news received and perceived", it said in the letter with a view to the discussions about the Brothers Grimm monument.
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There had been some demands that the memorial should not remain a place of mourning for a long time.
The city had started a design competition for a memorial for the victims of the attack.
"We are glad that so many people have the courage and courage to defend themselves aggressively against the critical voices to this day and have granted us this place of remembrance for so long," said the relatives in the Letter.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210303-99-670089 / 2