According to the latest findings by Hamburg’s State Protection unit, which handles hate-crime cases, two unidentified individuals filmed two men kissing at Hans-Albers-Platz, a square located just south of the Reeperbahn, on Saturday night. When the men confronted the filmers and asked them to stop recording, one of the two suspects directed a homophobic insult at the 18- and 19-year-old victims and struck them in the face.
Afterwards, the unknowns moved away in an unspecified direction. The 19-year-old followed them, at which point a bystander who had not been involved yet tripped him, causing him to fall. The lightly injured victims later filed a police report. Medical treatment was not required.
Täterbeschreibung: Hauptverdächtiger 17 bis 20 Jahre alt
The police have released a description of the suspects: the alleged main offender is estimated to be between 17 and 20 years old and stands about 1.80 to 1.85 meters tall (roughly 5’11” to 6’1″). His appearance is described as Southern/Middle Eastern/Turkish. He had dark hair and was wearing light-colored jeans, a beige vest, and a beige cap. The accomplice is known only to have worn a baseball cap. The investigation is being led by the State Protection unit (LKA 73) because there is a suspicion of hate crime.
Witnesses who saw the incident or who can provide information about the suspects are asked to call the Hamburg Police tip line at (040) 4286-56789 or to contact any police station.
The Hamburg Police had already reported a queer-phobic incident on Saturday morning: an unknown person punched a 30-year-old transgender individual and a 29-year-old man on a S-Bahn near Jungfernstieg station.
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