Space Invaders art piece draws 9/11 ire

LEIPZIG, Germany, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- Survivors of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks say they think an art installation in Germany depicting the World Trade Center under attack is in bad taste.

The work, by French-American artist Douglas Stanley, is an interactive piece set up in Leipzig, Germany, commemorating the 30th anniversary of the video game Space Invaders, The New York Daily News reported Thursday. The large installation allows viewers to use controls to shoot down alien aircraft as they approach an image of the World Trade Center towers.

The installation shows an "ambiguous juxtaposition of this mythical game and the historical events of Sept. 11," Stanley told the newspaper.

But some Sept. 11 family members don't see it that way. New York City firefighter Zachary Fletcher, whose twin brother died in the terrorist attacks, told the Daily News Stanley's explanation was "bull. It's very, very distasteful. Aliens are not going to attack the World Trade Center. What reason would they attack the World Trade Center? That makes no sense at all."

"That's the way they want to celebrate it? I think it's disgusting," said Rosemary Giallombardo, whose son died in the attacks.