This Sunday morning in Toulouse, a ceremony was held to pay tribute, eleven years later, to the victims of the attacks in Toulouse and Montauban in March 2012. The terrorist Mohammed Merah, who had already killed three other people the previous days, had , on March 19, opened fire in front of a Jewish school in the city, killing four people, including three children.
To pay homage, but also to remember. This Sunday morning in Square Charles de Gaulle in Toulouse, a hundred people gathered at a ceremony, eleven years after the attacks of March 2012. On March 11 and 15, the terrorist Mohammed Merah had killed three soldiers in Toulouse and Montauban, before, on March 19, opening fire in front of the Jewish school Ozar-Hatorah of the pink city. Four people, including three children, lost their lives.
The ceremony consisted of a speech, then the laying of a wreath in front of the stele erected in homage to the victims. Those present then observed a minute of silence, before singing the Marseillaise. Ava, who attended the event, once attended the school hit by the terrorist. “The scar is still present” she confides, adding however that “this story forged it” and gave him “the urge to fight.” “Today we come out stronger, alive.”
While the drama dates back to 2012, it also remains present in the minds of some Toulouse residents. “I think it’s a very important date, we remember it of course. We also talk about it in the media, that’s very good” whispers a resident.
“I had to be in CE2, CM1, remembers a young man. I remember, we talked about it a lot on TV. However, he admits that “if we had not told him that there was a ceremony”il “wouldn’t have thought” attacks on Sunday.
So should we continue to commemorate such events each year through a ceremony? “With these ceremonies, with these memories like last year for 10 years, I find that we try to remind everyone [dans tout le pays ndlr] what happened. It is important to know that in Toulouse, on March 19, 2012, there was an attack” says Ava. “It’s important for families” adds a visitor from Bordeaux, who nevertheless deplores the fact of “to talk too much” murderers.
For Anne-Marie Guiyot, who represents the association IMAD, for Youth and Peace, created by Latifa Ibn Ziaten, the mother of Imad Ben Ziaten, killed by Mohammed Merah, commemorating this date also goes beyond the simple duty of memory “We have to fight so that this never happens again,” she insists.
However, the tribute could gradually, as time passes, change form. “Recently was established a National Day of Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism, which is March 11explains the mayor of Toulouse Jean-Luc Moudenc. I think we need to have a reflection, to know if in Toulouse we maintain the two ceremonies, or if we try to merge all this into one.
For the city councilor, no question of “to slice” all alone. “There are tragedies that are obviously experienced more intensely and as if it were still today by the families and communities affected.” “All of this calls for joint reflection, and a lot of respect and delicacy.”
