No ceremony on anniversary of killing

16 April 2007

BRUSSELS – In accordance with the wishes of family members, the Antwerp municipal administration will not be organising any commemoration ceremony on 11 May to remember the victims of Hans Van Themsche.

“We respect the wishes of the families to remember this day without a public event,” Mayor Patrick Janssens said in the Gazet van Antwerpen.

Racism was the motive behind the killing on 11 May 2006 when Hans Van Themsche shot 2-year-old Luna and her Malian babysitter Oulematou Niangadou.

He also shot Turkish woman Songul Koç, who was taken to the hospital at the time in critical condition. A year after the incident she has recovered physically, but is still undergoing counselling.

The committee that organised the silent march last year does not have any plans for a commemoration of the tragic events either.

Subject: Belgian news