On Saturday, an argument escalated between security staff of a department store and youths. A homophobic insult was the trigger.
A youth was allegedly subjected to homophobic insults and physical attacks by a security guard at a department store in Berlin’s Mitte district on Saturday afternoon. According to the police on Sunday, the alleged victim was beaten and kicked by the suspect and by other employees of the security company.
According to police findings, four Iraqi youths got into an argument with the 31-year-old Syrian security guard at the main entrance of the department stores’ on Alexanderplatz square at around 5.45 pm. The employee allegedly insulted one of the youths in Arabic in a homophobic manner.
During the argument, the 31-year-old allegedly grabbed the 17-year-old by the collar and hit him on the head. At the same time, according to the youths, other security guards came and beat the others.
A witness later reported to the police that the youth, who had previously been hit by the security guard, went to the ground and was allegedly kicked in the head by the 31-year-old. The 17-year-old was injured in the head and was later taken to hospital for outpatient treatment. His companions also suffered minor injuries, but did not need treatment at first.
The 31-year-old indicated that he was also allegedly beaten, but remained uninjured. The other security staff members were no longer on site when the police report was taken. The investigation is ongoing.