When Neji Bejaoui entered the Spatzennascht crèche in Wasserbillig on 31 May 2000, taking 43 children and 5 educators hostage, parents of the affected children were accommodated at a nearby cultural centre. Alongside parents and close family members, first responders, law enforcement officials, psychologists and other support staff were present. There was no media, apart from one young journalist at the time: Roy Grotz.
Roy is now with RTL, but at the time worked for DNR Radio. In this episode, he tells us about the events 25 years later: How the kidnapping unfolded, what it was like being close to the parents in such a traumatising moment, as well as the untold stories from behind the scenes.
Roy felt very emotional being at the cultural centre, he recalls, actively deciding to take off his journalist “hat”, so to speak, and not conduct any interviews with any of the affected family members. Instead he listened, observed and spoke little.
Finally, he shares his views on the policing tactic that, although controversial, ended the kidnapping successfully.
Listen to episode 2 of DNA: Luxembourg Crime Podcast:
Roy Grotz was the only journalist present inside the cultural centre where family members of the kidnapping victims were gathering overnight.
DNA episode 1 – Terror at playtime: The Wasserbillig crèche hostage drama of 2000
