A Year After the Berlin Market Attack, Germany Admits Mistakes
- 6 years ago
A Year After the Berlin Market Attack, Germany Admits Mistakes
Merkel said that Today is a day of mourning,
19, 2017
BERLIN — The German authorities unveiled a new memorial in Berlin on Tuesday, honoring the 12 people killed in the terrorist attack at a Christmas market last year,
but their families and some survivors accused the government of failing to deport the attacker before he could strike and of a lack of empathy and support since the attack.
From Ms. Merkel, however, they heard nothing, the letter said: "Regarding how we as survivors were treated, we have to say, Ms. Chancellor,
that nearly one year after the attack, you have not offered your condolences, either personally or in writing." In March, the government appointed a former governor, Kurt Beck, to represent the interests of the families and help them to deal with paperwork needed to apply for compensation.
Before the ceremony, Chancellor Angela Merkel joined members of the acting government, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier
and representatives from Berlin at a memorial service open only to survivors of the attack and the victims’ families.
On Tuesday, Mr. Steinmeier offered an apology for the shortcomings of the German state and promised those present
that their "complaints and warnings have not fallen on deaf ears." But it was the concessions from the chancellor, who met on Monday for the first time since the attack with several dozen people who lost family members or were injured, that many victims had waited to hear.
ZDF said that I don’t think there was any ill intent, but my impression is
that none of us, not society and not the government, were spiritually prepared for the reality that such an attack could take place in Germany,
Merkel said that Today is a day of mourning,
19, 2017
BERLIN — The German authorities unveiled a new memorial in Berlin on Tuesday, honoring the 12 people killed in the terrorist attack at a Christmas market last year,
but their families and some survivors accused the government of failing to deport the attacker before he could strike and of a lack of empathy and support since the attack.
From Ms. Merkel, however, they heard nothing, the letter said: "Regarding how we as survivors were treated, we have to say, Ms. Chancellor,
that nearly one year after the attack, you have not offered your condolences, either personally or in writing." In March, the government appointed a former governor, Kurt Beck, to represent the interests of the families and help them to deal with paperwork needed to apply for compensation.
Before the ceremony, Chancellor Angela Merkel joined members of the acting government, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier
and representatives from Berlin at a memorial service open only to survivors of the attack and the victims’ families.
On Tuesday, Mr. Steinmeier offered an apology for the shortcomings of the German state and promised those present
that their "complaints and warnings have not fallen on deaf ears." But it was the concessions from the chancellor, who met on Monday for the first time since the attack with several dozen people who lost family members or were injured, that many victims had waited to hear.
ZDF said that I don’t think there was any ill intent, but my impression is
that none of us, not society and not the government, were spiritually prepared for the reality that such an attack could take place in Germany,