Pastor’s Home in Cottbus Targeted in Political Vandalism Attack
The residence of a local lutheran pastor in Cottbus was deliberately targeted in a vandalism attack with a suspected right-extremist background. Perpetrators allegedly broke into the residential building, rioted in the staircase, kicked an apartment door and left stickers with right-wing symbols and inscriptions on the mailbox of the pastor, who is known for his political left-wing activism.
Lukas Pellio, a lutheran pastor and left-wing political activist from Cottbus was the target of an alleged intimidation attack, involving political symbols left at his home, which authorities are treating as suspected right-wing violence. According to police, unknown individuals forced entry into a residential building, kicked in the front door of the pastor’s apartment and caused damage to the entrance area. Several right-wing stickers were also placed on the pastor’s mailbox.
Church representatives reacted strongly to the incident. The Lutheran Bishop of Berlin said he was “deeply shocked”, adding: “Against right-wing extremist slogans of fear and misanthropy, we as a church take a clear stand for the dignity of all people.”
The case is being investigated by state security, with authorities examining trespass, coercion and other politically motivated offences. In parallel, police are also looking into a related incident in the same street involving the harassment of a cyclist and the removal of an anti-fascist badge, which is being treated as part of the same series of suspected politically motivated offences.
Source: taz.de, rbb24, evangelische-zeitung, Facebook, Instagram
Photo: Instagram