A person kicked the parked candles, lanterns and flowers several times on Saturday morning.
The dismay after the death of Upper Austrian doctor Lisa-Marie Kellermayr was great and continues. The doctor, who had been threatened for months by opponents of vaccination and corona deniers, committed suicide last week. Commemoration ceremonies were held and memorials erected in many Austrian cities, as was the case in Vienna on Stephansplatz, where days later flowers, candles and photos were laid in silent remembrance of the doctor.
As the district newspaper reports, this memorial was destroyed on Saturday morning. The newspaper published a video showing a person – presumably a woman – kicking off the candles on the wall of St. Stephen’s Cathedral with his foot. A lantern shatters, candles and bouquets of flowers fly through the air.
According to the district newspaper, the crime happened around six in the morning. The background and whether the act was spontaneous or planned are unclear.
Meanwhile, investigations are ongoing in Germany: The apartment of a suspect was searched in Munich on Friday who is suspected of having threatened Kellermayr. The inaction of the Austrian authorities in response to the threats, especially the police, has been massively criticized.
How to get help
There are a number of support facilities and contact points for people in acute crisis situations. Under www.suicide-prevention.gv.at
Telephone help is also available from:
Crisis Intervention Center (Mon-Fri 10 a.m.-5 p.m.): 01/406 95 95, CROSS-INTERVENTIONS-CENTER.AT
Advice and help if you are at risk of suicide 0810/97 71 55
Psychiatric Emergency Aid (0-24): 01/313 30
Social psychiatric emergency service 01/310 87 79
telephone counseling (0-24, free): 142
Wired advice (midnight – midnight, for children & young people): 147
Conversational and behavioral tips: pleaselive.at
The “Bleib bei uns” association also offers help for people with suicidal thoughts and their families. www.bleibbeiuns.at
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