Gunman opens fire in German city of Hamburg - Brothers and Sisters Wounded

[Sheep]

You may recall this horrific news story three years ago. The sounds of the shots we imagine still echo in our minds, as we keep mulling over the question in our heads: How much longer, O Jehovah? How much longer?

 

 

That topic is closed now and won't allow any more posts. So I will continue it here.

 

A brother whom I know sent me the following information about what is happening now in the Kingdom Hall, a little more than three years after the tragedy. He wrote it all in French, but since his email is lengthy and I didn't want to translate it myself, I asked GoogleTranslate to do the honours. It doesn't appear to be taken from an article that I could find, and so contains no links. Other articles appearing in newspapers report another recent shooting in Germany; nothing to do with us. However, I was unable to find any others specifically about this Kingdom Hall. But considering how long I have known the brother who sent this to me (about 25 years), I trust him.

 

Quote

The Building That Houses the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Hamburg-Alsterdorf

 

In the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Hamburg-Alsterdorf, religious services have resumed after the shooting just over three years ago – “quite deliberately,” without ceremony and with a simple fresh start.

 

Just over three years after the shooting at a Jehovah’s Witnesses meeting hall in Hamburg, members are once again holding services there. “We reopened this community center, this Kingdom Hall as we call it, at the beginning of May,” explains Michael Tsifidaris, spokesman for Jehovah’s Witnesses in Northern Germany.

 

Since then, six religious services a week have been held in the completely renovated building by three different congregations. Tsifidaris explained the decision to forgo an inauguration ceremony: “We deliberately opted for a discreet reopening, because we know that normalcy won't return to this place overnight.” Out of respect for those affected and the grieving families of the victims, they wanted to prioritize a cautious approach for the future.

 

On March 9, 2023, a 35-year-old former Jehovah's Witness burst into a building in the Alsterdorf district shortly after evening services and shot and killed seven people, including an unborn child, before taking his own life. Eleven other people were injured, according to the public prosecutor's office. The massacre provoked widespread shock and profound sadness in Germany and around the world.

 

“Love is back.”

 

A year after the attack, it was announced that the congregation would no longer use the Kingdom Hall. The building, located on the busy Deelböge Street, remained empty for a long time. Then, the Hamburg community of Jehovah’s Witnesses undertook renovations. The premises were refurbished, but—as is often the case with Jehovah’s Witnesses—they remained completely bare. They resemble corporate meeting rooms.

 

The center has once again become a place of gathering and joy, says Tsifidaris. “We are also very happy to see that what we most desired has returned: the love that characterizes this place,” adds the spokesman. However, the congregation present on the day of the shooting continues to meet in another part of the city.

 

“We feel right at home,” says Christian Pock, an elder of the congregation. “We have experienced so many wonderful things here.” His family has been attending this Kingdom Hall since 2012. Regarding his first meeting after the shooting, the 38-year-old says, “You’re bound to be nervous.” “But,” she says, “it’s like driving: you look ahead and only occasionally glance in the rearview mirror to remember what happened.”

 

Phoebe-Manuela, 52, admits she entered the room with mixed feelings. “But because there’s such a positive atmosphere here—we all know each other—it’s easy to get distracted.” Lilian Benjamin, like her husband Calvin, helped with the renovations. It did her good. When she first entered the room, something unexpected happened, the 29-year-old recounts: “I saw photos and memories again.” Like meeting her husband at the center, the laughter she shared with her friends, and the introduction of their first child.

 

According to Tsifidaris, Jehovah’s Witnesses have been present in Hamburg for 120 years. Their more than 6,000 members, spread across over 50 congregations in and around the city, form a very international community. At the Deelböge hall, services are held in English and Romanian, as well as in Tagalog (a Filipino language) and Twi (a West African language).

Edited July 11 by Sheep

[truce]

May Jehovah continue to watch over his precious sheep.

[Dolce vita]

7 hours ago, Sheep said:

You may recall this horrific news story three years ago. The sounds of the shots we imagine still echo in our minds, as we keep mulling over the question in our heads: How much longer, O Jehovah? How much longer?

 

 

That topic is closed now and won't allow any more posts. So I will continue it here.

 

A brother whom I know sent me the following information about what is happening now in the Kingdom Hall, a little more than three years after the tragedy. He wrote it all in French, but since his email is lengthy and I didn't want to translate it myself, I asked GoogleTranslate to do the honours. It doesn't appear to be taken from an article that I could find, and so contains no links. Other articles appearing in newspapers report another recent shooting in Germany; nothing to do with us. However, I was unable to find any others specifically about this Kingdom Hall. But considering how long I have known the brother who sent this to me (about 25 years), I trust him.

 

https://www.zeit.de/news/2026-06/19/nach-amoklauf-bei-zeugen-jehovas-stille-wiedereroeffnung

https://www.sat1regional.de/artikel/nach-amoklauf-bei-zeugen-jehovas-stille-wiedereroeffnung

Sorry, I couldn't find any articles in English, but I believe Google doesn't just translate French, n'est-ce pas Eric😊?

[Bluebell]

My brother and sister-in-law go to the English congregation in this hall.

The building is completely remodelled.

The cngregation which were attacked by the gunman now meet in a different hall, 

as the memories are too much for those surviving brothers and sisters.

[Dré]

After the Mass Shooting: Jehovah’s Witnesses Renovate Their Kingdom Hall

https://www.zeit.de/news/2025-12/23/nach-amoklauf-zeugen-jehovas-renovieren-ihr-gemeindezentrum

[Sheep]

16 hours ago, Dolce vita said:

https://www.zeit.de/news/2026-06/19/nach-amoklauf-bei-zeugen-jehovas-stille-wiedereroeffnung

https://www.sat1regional.de/artikel/nach-amoklauf-bei-zeugen-jehovas-stille-wiedereroeffnung

Sorry, I couldn't find any articles in English, but I believe Google doesn't just translate French, n'est-ce pas Eric😊?

 

Oui. C'est exact. Merci.  I knew someone was going to mention that, looking for articles in German. But since I don't speak German (even though I'm half-German), I didn't know what word to look for. However, thank you, my sister, for finding it for me.