Hamburg to double police presence at Pride after Berlin attack

Police numbers at Hamburg's Pride parade this weekend will be significantly higher than in 2025, following an Islamist-motivated attack in Berlin.

"We will be on the ground with around twice as many officers as last time," Hamburg police chief Falk Schnabel told public broadcaster Deutschlandfunk on Wednesday.

Security plans have been intensively reviewed and tightened following the attack in Berlin on Saturday, which left one woman dead and 31 people injured.

"The fact that someone drove into the crowd in the area around the event is a cause for concern, and we will therefore be out in force in that area - with uniformed officers, but also plain-clothes officers and an aerial component," Schnabel said.

Organisers expect 250,000 people to attend the Hamburg parade, according to police. 

The procession is due to set off at 12 pm (1000 GMT) in the Hohenfelde district and pass through the St Georg neighbourhood into the city centre, where it is expected to conclude at around 7 pm. 

The theme of this year's event is: "Queer solidarity. Take a stand - for a future without fear!"