Swastika attack on queer center in Gifhorn: District administration shows its flag

Swastika attack on queer center in Gifhorn: District administration shows its flag

On the night of Sunday, November 25, 2025, the queer youth center “Spektrum” in Gifhorn was confronted with a frightening attack. Unknown perpetrators posted a swastika made of double-sided tape and hateful messages on the center's window, shocking the local community. As team.com reports, the young people in the center experience a terrible reality in which such aggression is occurring more and more frequently.

The Gifhorn district strongly condemned the incident. District Administrator Philipp Raulfs and First District Councilor Dominik Meyer zu Schlochtern expressed their solidarity and emphasized the fundamental values ​​of diversity and human dignity. As a sign of support, the district administration hoisted the rainbow flag at Gifhorn Castle on Monday, which is interpreted as a strong signal against intolerance.

Worrying developments

The attack on the youth center is perceived as unprecedented in the community. The queer network Gifhorn spoke of a targeted, hateful attack and expressed deep concern about the growing climate of violence. The messages left by the perpetrators were not only racist, but also included offensive sayings in Cyrillic script. This makes it clear that the aggression is not only taking place locally, but also in a broader context of anti-queer violence, which has increased nationwide, as [NDR](https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/niedersachsen/braunschweig_harz_goettingen/attack-auf-queeres-zentrum- Hakenkreuz-auf-fenster-geklebt,aktuellbraunschweig-1272.html) reports.

This incident is part of a worrying trend. According to a report by tagesschau.de, anti-queer crimes in Germany increased sharply in 2023, with 1,785 documented cases. This shows an increase in hate crimes of around 50 percent compared to the previous year. What is particularly worrying is the increasing number of violent acts, in which 212 people became victims. The authorities assume that the number of unreported cases is high, which makes the situation even more alarming.

Public and political reaction

The incident also brought local politics into focus. The Gifhorn district appeals to civil society and politicians to stand in solidarity against the growing right-wing extremist hatred. The operators of the youth center see the attack not only as a threat to their safe space, but also to the entire community that lives diversity and tolerance.

With a clear call to action, those responsible are now addressing everyone who wants to stand up for the rights and dignity of queer people. The time for looking the other way is over - now it's time to stand together against hatred and discrimination. This is the only way to create a safe environment in which young people are accepted and celebrated in their identity and being.