Berlin Pride vigil mourners oppose far-right use of deadly ramming attack

Hundreds of people gathered at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate on Sunday to mourn the victim of a deadly minivan ramming near the city’s Pride parade and to oppose attempts to use the attack to promote anti-immigration politics.

The ramming late Saturday killed one person and injured dozens. It occurred less than two months before Berlin elects a new state assembly, with the far-right Alternative for Germany leading in some polls.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt identified the main suspect as 21-year-old Abdul Ballout. Dobrindt said Ballout was a German citizen of Lebanese origin, had a substantial criminal record and was associated with the Islamist scene.

Participants at the vigil said the LGBTQ community should not be intimidated and warned against directing hatred at foreigners, migrants or Muslims. Some said they feared the AfD would use the attack to strengthen its anti-immigration message.

The AfD described the ramming as a failure of government security policy. Party lawmaker Martin Hess said Islamism remained Germany’s greatest security threat and called for changes to migration policy.