In November 2019, a family walk through the capital’s Christmas market turned into a tragedy. At around 8 pm on Sunday 24 November 2019, an ice sculpture over two metres high collapsed near the ice rink on Place Guillaume II.
Without any explanation to date, a 700-kilogramme piece of ice fell on Emran, a small child. The incident occurred in front of his father’s eyes. The child, who had been hit on the head, was thrown against a wooden fence and died on the spot. The tragic death of the little boy had triggered a wave of emotion far beyond the borders.
One year after the tragic incident, the investigation is still ongoing. Upon enquiry by RTL, the public prosecutor’s office confirmed that the blocks of ice were still frozen. The investigation has been completed and several people have been heard. Work is continuing and the investigating judge aims to complete the investigation in 2021.
The parents of the young victim are still hoping for explanations. The child’s father, Ragbet Hamza, stated that they owed it to Emran, and that they needed to know why he lost his life so early. Since the tragedy, the family has been doing its best to avoid Place Guillaume II. A place that reminded them of “too many painful memories”, according to Hamza: “I remember every moment. I still find it hard to realise that the little one is no longer there, that it really happened”.
On the first anniversary of their child’s death, the family would have liked to be in Kosovo, where their son is buried. But the pandemic has made the trip impossible. Since the funeral, the family has only been able to go there once, at the end of September.
The child’s parents, however, greatly appreciated the gesture of Luxembourg City’s Mayor, Lydie Polfer, who personally visited their home on Tuesday morning to express her condolences once again on behalf of the municipal authorities of the City of Luxembourg with a wreath of flowers and a commemorative card.
Video report in Luxembourgish:
