German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has called for greater protection of queer people's right to self-determination and safety following an Islamist-motivated attack on the fringes of Berlin's Christopher Street Day celebrations that left one woman dead and at least 31 others injured.
Steinmeier described the July 25 assault as "an attack on all of us, on our open society". According to authorities, an attacker drove a vehicle into a crowd of marchers and then struck victims with what is believed to be a machete. The suspect has been identified as a German national of Lebanese descent.
The attack, which targeted participants in one of the capital's largest annual LGBTQ+ events, drew widespread condemnation and renewed debate over the security of public pride gatherings in Germany.