Memorial service held for victims in Germany

onnaedo

April 17, 2015 12:09 PM

The Archbishop of Cologne, Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki, who is also leading the service, told relatives that they are not alone in these hours of loneliness.

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A memorial service is being held in Germany for the victims of the March 24th crash of the Germanwings flight 4U9525.

BBC reports that some 500 relatives of the dead passengers and crew are among the 1,400-strong congregation at Cologne cathedral, Germany, there has also been an outpour of emotional tributes at the event.

Among those in attendance are German Chancellor Angela Merkel who is joined by ministers from France and Spain, and executives from Germanwings and its parent company Lufthansa.

The Archbishop of Cologne, Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki, who is also leading the service, told relatives: "You are not alone in these hours of loneliness" .

Also music students from the Joseph-Koenig School in Haltern, which lost 16 children and 2 teachers in the crash, are expected to play the theme from the film "Schindler's List" during the service.

Meanwhile, flags are reportedly flying at half-mast across Germany, and large screens have been erected for crowds gathered outside.

Germanwingsflight 4U9525 had been travelling from Barcelona, Spain to Duesseldorf, Germany when it crashed with all 150 passengers and crew from 18 countries, mostly Germany and Spain, on board.

The plane's co-pilot, Andreas Lubitz has been accused of crashing the plane in the French Alps after flight captain, Patrick Sonderheimer had gone to the toilet shortly after take-off.

Crash investigators later discovered that Lubitz had apparently hidden a mental illness from his employers.

onnaedo