World · Europe · 3 hrs ago
Memorial for Avin and Luis Paulo damaged in Hürth
A memorial in Hürth for Avin and Luis Paulo has been damaged, with parts of a metal figure broken off.
The memorial stands on Frechener Straße, where a car struck a group of pupils in June 2025, killing 10-year-old Avin and 25-year-old school escort Luis Paulo.
The larger figure for Luis Paulo lost its head and feet, while the figure for Avin was not damaged.
Local residents and road-safety groups had created the memorial after the crash, which prompted a petition for safer streets.
Police are investigating the damage after a complaint was filed.
The driver who caused the crash was sentenced to four and a half years in prison in July 2026.
A memorial in Hürth for Avin and Luis Paulo, who died in a 2025 road crash, was damaged by unknown people.
The metal figure representing school assistant Luis Paulo was found without its head and feet, while Avin’s figure was reported undamaged.
Police are investigating the damage as property damage after a complaint was filed.
The memorial stands on Frechener Straße, where the crash happened.
The driver who caused the crash was sentenced to four and a half years in prison, according to Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger.
- Who
- Unknown people damaged the memorial. Avin and Luis Paulo were the crash victims it commemorates.
- What
- The metal figure for Luis Paulo was damaged, with its head and feet missing.
- When
- It was discovered in late October 2026. Reports differ on whether it was first noticed Wednesday or Thursday evening.
- Where
- At the memorial on Frechener Straße in Hürth, Germany.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A car struck a group of schoolchildren crossing Frechener Straße at a traffic light, killing ten-year-old Avin and 25-year-old Luis Paulo.
Zeynep Fuchs and others campaigned for safer roads and put up figures at the crash site as a memorial.
The damaged memorial was noticed; reports differ on whether it was first seen Wednesday or Thursday evening.
Police attended the site and took a complaint, according to WDR.
The driver was sentenced to four and a half years in prison by Cologne Regional Court, according to Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger.
- Location
- Frechener Straße, Hürth
- Victims
- Avin, 10, and Luis Paulo, 25
- Crash date
- 4 June 2025
- Damage
- Luis Paulo’s figure lost its head and feet
- Police case
- Investigation into suspected property damage
- Sentence
- Crash driver sentenced to four and a half years in prison
3 sources
What people are saying
This is simply shocking.
The head and feet are missing from the larger figure, which was put up for Luis Paulo.
I am dumbfounded. And it is completely inexplicable to me how anyone can desecrate a memorial after such an accident.