Frankfurt memorial honors victims of violent crime

Hundreds of people gathered at Römerberg in Frankfurt am Main on September 19 for the ‘Trauerwache Deutschland’, a memorial event and march dedicated to victims of violent crimes, terrorist attacks, and stabbings in Germany.

Organizers and relatives of victims, including Michael Kyrath—whose daughter Ann-Marie was killed in a 2023 train attack—aim to give a face and voice to those affected by violence. Participants expressed frustration with perceived institutional failures and called for greater political accountability regarding migration policy and internal security.

During the event, speakers addressed the rise in insecurity. Manuel Ostermann, president of the German Police Union, warned of a ‘collective loss of freedom.’ The memorial specifically highlights victims of crimes committed by individuals associated with asylum seeking or migration, though organizers noted that every case must be viewed according to established facts.