Relatives of the 150 people killed in a Germanwings airplane crash in the French Alps marked the 10th anniversary of the tragedy on Monday.
Germanwings Flight 9525 was en route from Barcelona to the western German city of Dusseldorf on March 24, 2015, when it crashed near the commune of Le Vernet, killing all on board.
Investigators believe the co-pilot, who suffered from a mental disorder, deliberately crashed the plane to take his own life.
Among the victims were a group of school students from the town of Haltern am See, located in the western Ruhr region, Germany’s former industrial heartland.
Students and teachers at the Joseph König secondary school laid down white roses on Monday to commemorate the 16 students and two teachers killed in the crash.
A moment of silence was held in Haltern at 10:41 am (0941 GMT) to mark the exact time of the crash 10 years ago.
Pastoral counsellor Stephanie Rüsweg said the tragedy serves as a reminder that “the time we are given is a gift.”
“Tell your loved ones today that you love them,” she told students gathered at the school. “This is how life triumphs over death. This is how love triumphs over death.”
Haltern Mayor Andreas Stegemann added: “We will not forget you.”
In a post on X, the premier of the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia – where Haltern is located – said Germany is “united in remembering those who lost their lives 10 years ago.”
“We will honour their memory,” wrote Hendrik Wüst.
Many relatives also travelled to the site of the crash in south-eastern France to attend a memorial to commemorate the victims.
More than 300 people came together at the ceremony, which one participant said was very moving.
A 5-metre-high memorial, known as the Solar Orb, was installed at the site in 2017, made up of 149 panels – one for each of the victims, excluding the co-pilot.
(dpa)