Germany: Memorial service for Love Parade victims
Associated Press, Duisburg, Germany | Sat, 07/31/2010 6:01 PM
Germany held a memorial service Saturday for the victims of the Love Parade techno music festival, where 21 people were crushed to death and 500 injured in a tunnel that was the only entrance to the event.
The memorial at Salvator Church, which opened with somber organ music, was shown on screens in a football stadium and a dozen other churches in the western city of Duisburg. Several TV stations carried the service live, and flags across the country flew at half-mast.
Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Christian Wulff were at the event. Family members of the victims also attended.
The 21 people who died were aged 18 to 38 and included foreigners from Spain, Australia, Italy, Bosnia, China and Holland.
The ceremony was led by Roman Catholic and Lutheran Protestant clerics - representing Germany's two main denominations.
After the sermons, rescue helpers lit 21 candles for the victims of the tragedy.
