Astrid Passin, a spokesperson for the bereaved families following the Islamist attack on Berlin’s Breitscheidplatz and the chairwoman of the association “Victims of Terrorism Germany,” stated that the attack during the Christopher Street Day evoked memories of the 2016 Christmas market bombing. She told the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” that the news caused them shock because “the pictures are the same as back then.”
Passin stressed the need for the perpetrator to be found quickly, noting that he had once again fled. She emphasized that it is crucial that this search happens without requiring foreign security agencies to provide assistance, such as was needed in the case of Anis Amri, who was shot while fleeing in Italy in 2016. The spokesperson added that the bereaved families are experiencing intense fear, which motivates them to be present to create support systems.
Furthermore, Passin mentioned that following the Breitscheidplatz attack, the police and fire department adjusted their operational procedures, an initiative she supported. She expressed hope that these changes are now effectively functioning, arguing that affected individuals must feel a sense of security and assurance that the situation is being managed systematically. She explained that when a victim is impacted, the initial shock and devastation-the unimaginable feeling of a loved one suddenly being gone-make this sense of order paramount. Passin’s own father was among the 13 victims of the attack.
