BELGIUM: At least 3,000 people march in Dendermonde in remembrance of nursery attack victims

Record ID: 353424

  • Title: BELGIUM: At least 3,000 people march in Dendermonde in remembrance of nursery attack victims
  • Date: 26th January 2009
  • Summary: CHILDREN HOLDING WHITE BALLOONS
  • Embargoed: 10th February 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Belgium
  • Country: Belgium
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Population
  • Reuters ID: LVA382K25BSMYSYKR0QH6IPGZGN0
  • Story Text: At least 8,000 people march to remember the victims of a frenzied knife attack at a crèche that has stunned Belgium.
    ABOUT 8000 people filled the streets of Dendermonde on Sunday (January 25) to remember those killed and wounded in the crèche attack which has stunned Belgium.
    Two babies and a woman were killed on Friday (January 23) when a man entered a nursery and started stabbing randomly around him. Another 13 were wounded in the attack.
    Belgium is in shock and the silent march reflected the sombre mood of many.
    Many parents took their children on the march that left from a church and passed in front of the nursery where a wall was covered with flowers and teddy bears.
    Elke Van Goethem, who came with her one-year-old son Matteo, said everyone in the town had been affected by the incident.
    ''All the community is hurt by this. I think everybody knows somebody who has a child who was hurt or who was killed here so... I want to give my support to all those people. And because I have little child of my own, I think it's a really bad thing that happened here and I hope it doesn't ever happen again,'' Van Goethem said.
    For Dendermonde residents, the situation is incomprehensible.

    "It's something incredible, no one understands. It's unacceptable that people like that... No one understands," Eddie Gaillard said.
    Prosecutors have charged a 20-year-old unemployed Belgian with the three murders and attempted murder. The suspect was identified as "Kim D", who lived alone some 30 km (20 miles) from the scene of Friday's attack.
    The man had no previous criminal record. When arrested he was carrying a knife, a small axe, a fake pistol and was wearing body armour. Two more knives were found near the scene.
    Local media dubbed the assailant the "Joker" killer because his face was painted white and his eyes blackened, like the criminal mastermind in the Batman films.
    Residents of the town displayed white balloons and white ribbons on their front doors in a sign of remembrance.
    ''Of course, it comes straight down to your heart when something so terrible happens,'' Sophie Smits said.
    The attacker arrived at the Fabeltjesland - Fairytale Land - crèche 30 km (20 miles) west of Brussels mid-morning on Friday saying he wanted to ask a question. But he then ran into the crèche's rooms and launched his attacks, slashing at victims with a knife, before cycling off. He was detained a short time later at a shop.
    There were 18 infants aged up to three years old and six adults in the creche. Those killed were aged six and nine months and a female childminder, aged 54. Some of the wounded children will need plastic surgery, hospital staff said.
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