A maple planted in August in Berlin's Tiergarten to commemorate victims of the July Pride march attack was uprooted days after a nearby rainbow bench was vandalised. The incidents occurred on the eve of a key election in Saxony-Anhalt, where the far-right AfD was expected to perform strongly. City leaders pledged to replace the memorials and reaffirm solidarity with the queer community. Authorities said the Pride attacker, a 21-year-old suspect who pledged allegiance to IS, was killed by police after fleeing.
Vandals Uproot Berlin Memorial Tree Days After Rainbow Bench Is Attacked
The young maple replaced a tree damaged in the July attack on the Pride march (RALF HIRSCHBERGER)
A maple tree planted in August in Berlin's Tiergarten to mark the site of this summer's deadly attack on the city's Pride march was forcibly uprooted, German police said on Sunday. The vandalism came just days after wooden slats from a nearby rainbow bench were ripped off.
The removal of the commemorative tree took place on the eve of a pivotal state election in neighbouring Saxony-Anhalt, where the far-right, anti-LGBTQ Alternative for Germany (AfD) party was widely expected to perform strongly.
The tree and the bench served as a public place of remembrance for victims of the July attack on the Pride march that killed a 65-year-old Polish woman and wounded around 30 people.
"The commemorative tree was... pulled up by the roots," a police spokeswoman told AFP, confirming a report by public broadcaster RBB.
Police said last week's bench damage involved wooden slats torn off with what they described as "considerable physical violence." Officers noted that other benches in the immediate area were left intact, indicating the acts targeted the memorials specifically.
Local officials responded strongly. Werner Graf, leader of the Green group in the Berlin parliament, addressed the city's queer community:
"I say to all the queer people in this city: you are not alone."He added:
"We will replant this tree — as often as necessary."
Mitte district council pledged to replace the rainbow bench, saying it "stands for our freedom and for solidarity with the queer community." Mitte district mayor Stefanie Remlinger condemned the vandalism:
"Whoever destroyed it wants to make a statement against these values. Our basic values are not up for debate."
The July Pride march — one of Europe's largest — was struck by a vehicle-ramming and machete attack that police say was carried out by a 21-year-old German man who had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group. Police shot the suspect dead the day after the attack, when he was located following a manhunt.
Authorities noted the Pride attack is part of a broader pattern of violent incidents that have unsettled Germany in recent years. The deadliest recent attack cited by officials was a 2024 car-ramming at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt, which killed six people and injured more than 300. The convicted perpetrator in that case was a Saudi national who reportedly embraced far-right views and radical conspiracy theories.
Berlin officials said they will restore the memorials and continue to publicly reaffirm their support for the queer community and democratic values.
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