Memorial Service Holds For Alps Plane Crash Victims

A memorial service for the victims of last month’s Alps plane crash is being held at Cologne Cathedral, BBC reports.

Relatives of the dead passengers have formed part of the 1,500-strong congregation, along with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Transport ministers from France and Spain are attending, along with Lufthansa chief Carsten Spohr.

Co-pilot Andreas Lubitz is accused of deliberately crashing the Germanwings Airbus on 24 March, killing 150 people.

A candle for each of the victims has been placed on the altar and flags are flying at half-mast across Germany.

Mourners were invited to leave flowers on the stairways leading up to the cathedral and large screens have been erected for crowds gathered outside.

German President Joachim Gauck and Spain’s Interior Minister Jorge Fernandez Diaz were also expected at the service.

It is being led by the Archbishop of Cologne, Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki and the president of the Protestant Church of Westphalia, Annette Kurschus.