Now the Jehovah's Witnesses are also saying goodbye to the victims of the ambush

Thousands of members of the Jehovah's Witnesses faith community commemorated the victims of the rampage that killed eight in Hamburg. Around 3,300 believers gathered on Saturday for a funeral service in the Alsterdorfer Sporthalle in the Hanseatic city, and according to the organizers, another 90,000 followed the celebration via the Internet.

In addition to relatives of the bereaved and the surviving victims, representatives from more than 50 Hamburg communities of Jehovah's Witnesses as well as representatives from politics and authorities came - among them Mayor Peter Tschentscher (SPD), Deputy Mayor Katharina Fegebank (Green Party), President Carola Veit and the top management of the Hamburg police.

A good two weeks ago, 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, two of them are still in the hospital.

"We are speechless at the level of violence and brutality," said Dirk Ciupek of the Central Europe branch in his memorial address. The community felt a great debt of gratitude to the police, who, without hesitation and at the risk of their lives, prevented further victims on the night of the crime. Thanks are also due, among other things, to the fire brigade, the rescue workers and the brother in faith, who still had the presence of mind to turn off the light in the hall during the attack - "and thereby probably saved lives, just not his own".

Ciupek emphasized: "It will be a different life than before, it will be a life with a void, a void that hurts." In his speech, he described the characteristics and peculiarities of each individual victim, such as the unborn girl, on whom the gathering was so happy. The child already knew every voice in the meeting because everyone there greeted the girl in their stomachs. “Yes, we miss our dead, we mourn our dead. They will remain part of us," said Ciupek.

In a message read by Mayor Tschentscher, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier declared: "Today we commemorate the victims of a serious crime." Brothers, loved ones, friends, companions”. Their lives had been taken from them by a barbaric act.

"This merciless act leaves behind nothing but loss, grief and destruction," Steinmeier warned. Many people were also injured. "My sincere, deepest sympathy goes out to all of you, dear relatives, dear friends and companions of the victims." This crime is directed against what Germany stands for. "This injustice affects us all."

Mayor Tschentscher emphasized: "We have never experienced such a crime in Hamburg." Parliament President Veit sent her condolences on behalf of the citizenry. In the event of an accident, it is important to offer solidarity and support, she said. A letter of condolence was even received from the South Korean twin city of Busan. Mourning is important, but it is not powerlessness, emphasized Veit. "We can stand by you, we can remember the deceased, the good moments you had with them."

The Christian churches commemorated the victims last Sunday in the main church of St. Petri with an ecumenical event. 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.