Berlin: German Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil emphasized the need to defend the right to live freely following a fatal attack on Berlin's Christopher Street Day (CSD) Pride parade. Klingbeil, who also serves as the finance minister and co-leader of the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), stressed the significance of CSD as a symbol of freedom for all individuals, declaring, "We will defend that."
According to Ghana News Agency, fellow SPD co-leader B¤rbel Bas expressed her deep shock at the "horrific attack," which resulted in the death of one woman and injuries to 16 others on Saturday evening near Berlin's Tiergarten park. Police are actively searching for a 21-year-old suspect, known to have Islamist leanings, in connection with the incident.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also condemned the attack, characterizing it as an assault on Germany's open society and lifestyle. Speaking from Hamm, where he attended a temple festival organized by the Hindu community, he conveyed his shock and dismay at the attack during an event meant to celebrate tolerance, diversity, and equality. Steinmeier noted the gathering of hundreds of thousands from around the world who had come to the parade to advocate for a self-determined life based on equality.