Next Sunday, the city of Villach will formally conclude the official week of mourning. During the short ceremony, an illuminated heart will float on the Drau through the city center, the city announced in a press release on Friday. In the first Islamist terrorist attack in Carinthia, a 23-year-old Syrian killed a 14-year-old boy with a knife and seriously injured five other people last Saturday.

Week of Mourning in Villach Nearing End

The theme of the event on Sunday is "One Heart, One City. Villach Stands Together". Swimmers from the fire department and water rescue will place an illuminated heart with a diameter of three meters into the Drau at 6:00 PM. "This heart will slowly swim first under the Drau Bridge and then under the Congress Center footbridge, before it - as a sign of eternal love - will drift downstream, out into the country," the city stated.

The entire process will be accompanied by music. Additionally, actress and poetry slammer Estha Sackl will deliver her own short text. There will be no further speeches, and the entire ceremony will last about 15 minutes. The Drau Bridge will be closed to traffic on Sunday from 5:00 PM.

"Education the Strongest Shield"

The President of the Islamic Religious Community of Austria (IGGÖ), Ümit Vural, made his previously scheduled inaugural visit to Carinthia's Governor Peter Kaiser (SPÖ) on Friday. During the visit, Vural "unequivocally distanced himself from radical Islamic tendencies" and strongly condemned the attack. Kaiser reported on the Carinthian integration contract, which is to be developed. It will link mandatory German courses, value education, and community service to social benefits. Failure to comply could result in consequences up to the loss of residency rights.

Vural emphasized that all necessary lessons must be learned "to prevent such cruel attacks in the future". The IGGÖ will work with all its might to prevent such attacks. Vural: "We need prevention through education, because education is the strongest shield. And we must, across all religions, eliminate prejudices. We pursue the path of moderation and prudence."

The State Office for the Protection of the Constitution and Counterterrorism referred again on Friday to its own upload platform, where photos and videos of the attack can be uploaded. They are looking for recordings that show the immediate act, "but also the events surrounding the act, especially in the area of Bahnhofstraße and the lower main square". Photos and videos taken on Saturday between 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM are of interest. It was explicitly pointed out that the data can also be uploaded anonymously.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.