On a warm and sunny afternoon in Neukölln, a family with kids started verbally abusing a gay man before they attacked. He was only saved when a good Samaritan stepped in to help.
Image: picture-alliance/Tagesspiel/K. U. Heinrich
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A gay man was attacked in Berlin by a family with children, police announced Saturday. It was the latest in a string of homophobic assaults in the city.
The 35-year-old man was walking through the southeastern neighborhood of Neukölln on Friday afternoon when a group of men, women and children started verbally abusing him.
The men then started punching and kicking him before a female passerby intervened. The good Samaritan helped him seek shelter and call police. The victim was then taken to hospital.
Police said they were investigating and had not yet found the family, but gave no description of them.
The man told police the group were abusing him in Hermannplatz for his sexuality and for a cross worn on his neck. He told police it was clear they were a family.
Homophobic violence jumps 16 percent in Berlin
The beating was the latest in a series of attacks on gay men in Berlin. Berlin police have reported nine homophobic crimes so far this month, gay news outlet Queer.de reported on Saturday.
In 2016 there were 291 acts of homophobic violence, up 16 percent year-on-year, Berlin-based anti-homophobic violence group Maneo reported. Berlin police counted just 162 homophobic crimes over the same period.
Politics and pride at Berlin's Christopher Street Day parade
Thousands of people took to the streets of Berlin on Saturday to celebrate the LGBT community under the banner: "Thanks for nothing." Revelers remained defiant despite heavy security a day after the Munich mass shooting.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/S. Kembowski
Why not equal?
Around 750,000 people from across the globe converged on the streets of Berlin for the Christopher Street Day (CSD) in Berlin. The organizers said the parade, one of the largest of its kind in Europe, denounces an enduring discrimination in German legislation targeting marriage and family for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders (LGBT). The CSD is what Germany calls its pride parade.
Image: picture-alliance/E. Contini/NurPhoto
'Open, tolerant and free'
Opening the festivities on Saturday, Berlin Mayor Michael Müller said intolerance and discrimination should have no place in society. "We must together ensure that this city and our coexistence are truly open, tolerant and free," Müller said. The parade took place a day after a mass shooting left 10 people dead, including the assailant, in Munich.
Image: picture-alliance/E. Contini/NurPhoto
Against hate, racism and homophobia
Under the banner "Danke für nix," or "Thanks for nothing," marchers rallied in support of LGBT equality. A handful of revelers dubbed themselves superheroes against discrimination, carrying signs protesting hate, racism and homophobia. A group also carried a banner that read "Berlin with Orlando" in solidarity with the victims of the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in the Florida city in June.
Image: picture-alliance/E. Contini/NurPhoto
Erdogan on the mind
A bejeweled image of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made the rounds at the parade. He has described homosexuality as a "sexual preference" and contrary to the "culture of Islam." In June, two German politicians were briefly detained as riot police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters at a banned gay pride event in Istanbul.
Image: picture-alliance/E. Contini/NurPhoto
'Save your Europe'
Following the momentous decision by UK citizens to narrowly vote in favor of a Brexit, or a split from the European Union, on June 23, the subject of unity across the EU has been at the top of many Europeans' minds. At the parade in Berlin, a reveler wore garments that resembled the bloc's flag, carrying a sign that read: "Save your Europe."
Image: picture-alliance/E. Contini/NurPhoto
Never Trump
Days after billionaire Donald Trump won the Republican party's official nomination to run for the US presidency, a reveler wore underwear with the colors of the American flag, carrying a sign that read: "Never Trump." The Republican presidential nominee has voiced controversial views concerning a wide range of topics, including opposition to nationwide same-sex marriage rights in the US.
Image: picture-alliance/E. Contini/NurPhoto
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Last week a 19-year-old gay man was beaten up by a group in Alexanderplatz. Police later arrested a 17-year-old and an 18-year-old for the attack.
Earlier this month, a 34-year-old gay Italian man was stabbed to death in Volkspark Friedrichshain, a well-known gay cruising area.
Just one day prior to the killing, a group of men were attacked in the gay district of Schöneberg after being homophobically abused, police said.
In December, three young gay men were assaulted on the U8 metro line by a group of four men, who asked why they were gay. A 17-year-old was later arrested.
In June, a 28-year-old man was attacked by a group of five people in Mitte after they demanded to know whether he was gay.
Berlin police regularly report on the possible homophobic motives of crimes, unlike many other cities in Germany.
