German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that it is still too early to answer the question of what political consequences will be drawn from the weekend attack on the Berlin Pride celebration that left one person dead and 29 injured.
Merz called the attack not just an attack on the queer community but also on Germany's freedom and free society.
"We will do everything to protect and defend this freedom, this openness, and the liberal nature of our society. That is the task of a government. But it is also the task of our society," said Merz at a party press conference.Merz added that it was necessary to look into how the suspect behind the attack, who Merz said was under constant surveillance, was able to approach the celebration.
"My question is: could this have been prevented? This is not a rhetorical question, but a serious one. And if the legal basis for such a measure is insufficient, then we must discuss the legal foundations that would make it possible," said Merz.
A known Islamist, suspected of having driven the minivan into the crowd on Saturday evening was shot dead on Sunday by police in Berlin's Spandau district.
German police on Sunday removed a minivan linked to the man suspected of driving into a crowd near a major LGBTQ Pride gathering in Berlin over the weekend.
The ramming attack happened in the Tiergarten park near the Brandenburg Gate at about 10 p.m. (2000 GMT) on Saturday (July 25), not far from one of Europe's biggest annual LGBTQ celebrations, Christopher Street Day. One person was killed and 29 were injured, authorities said.
Police on Sunday said a known Islamist suspected of driving the minivan into a crowd was shot dead by law enforcement officers in the city's Spandau district.
