Tiergarten - be cautious.

[ObedientChaser]

On 10/25/2024 at 12:30 AM, AirmaxUK said:

Berlin is often seen as a paradise because of the culture,  clubs, bars, and big events like BLF, Folsom, CSD, and Hustlaball this last weekend. It has a dark side too... 

Last Monday I was at a loose end in the evening and since there was nothing interesting on at the clubs and bars, I decided to go cruise the park at Tiergarten and had just arrived there when I heard loud voices from over near the ping pong tables. I didn't understand what was being said but you could tell it really wasn't friendly. I figured it was maybe some drunks or something and circled away from the area for a bit.

After 15-20 minutes I cautiously headed back toward the cruising area, listening carefully, and could hear no more shouting. Then, suddenly, someone turned on a bright torch and was shining it at me and shouted 'hey hey'.  I decided to exit to the nearest road and walked up a path to Altonauer Strasse. As I did, I was aware someone was behind me and closing in which made me really uncomfortable.  I side stepped and stopped suddenly ready to confront him, but the guy hurriedly carried on past me up the path to the street. I figured he too was making a quick exit. I left a distance and walked up to the street, where he was stood still, playing with his phone. I walked past him trying to keep a distance to avoid him but he spoke to me and said something which again I didn't understand. I walked off feeling safer being on a brightly lit street.

I must've only got a few steps away when a car pulled up sharp just ahead of me and two guys got out - obviously very angry. There was a confrontation - one held me so I couldn't get away.  When they realized I don't speak German they switched to broken English - "I will kill you for what you did. I have a gun and I will shoot you dead right now. Admit what you did to him." He was pointing at the guy with the phone I passed moments before. Over and over with shouting, pushing, shoving and hitting.

I got an opportunity to break free and ran into the road - figuring maybe someone would stop and help - or at least see what was happening.  As luck would have it, the traffic lights had changed - so there was no traffic! The guys came for me again and this time he hit me hard at my temple. I went down and one of them - maybe it was the phone guy - was shouting leave him, leave him, go, go so they got back into their car and left me stumbling in the road toward siegesaule.

I was in shock and my mind was all over the place. Somehow it then occurred to me to grab my phone and dial 112 - which I started to do -- but being in shock I struggled and fumbled around with it.  Their car sped past me and then they must've seen the phone in my hand as it stopped abruptly and the door opened and they guy was screaming something about 'take a fucking picture'.  At this point the traffic lights must've changed and the general traffic caught up to us - the car sped off again.

Shaking, I walked in the bus lane and was waving at passing taxi's to try and get one to stop. None did.  I spotted a bus stop where there was some people stood and I headed that way.  I sat in the shelter and the people there were trying their best to ignore me. A bus came and I rode a few stops to get some distance between me and Tiergarten.

No permanent physical damage - bruising, swelling, and a jaw that hurts to open wide.   Mentally, it may take a time for me to be as comfortable as I was walking alone at night in the city.

I went to Maneo/Man-o-meter today to report the incident as they encourage reports on this kind of thing.  The guys there were sympathetic but said this kind of thing is happening more and more frequently.  

Reflecting on it, my initial reaction was 'I am being robbed' but they guys made no attempt to take anything.  Honestly they could have beaten me a lot worse.  I think this was done to scare and intimidate. I think it was a team with 'phone guy' marking me and tipping them off. 

I'm not here to say 'Don't go cruising in Tiergarten, it's too dangerous' - that way they are the ones who win. It does seem everyone I talked to who cruises has an 'I was attacked at Tiergarten' story. I think I'd become too comfortable with Berlin and my guard was down too far. Just be aware that this sort of thing is on the increase. Don't go alone.  And if it seems a bit suspect or someone's behaviors is a bit off - err on the side of caution.

I realize I am no longer young enough to outrun trouble - so risk has to be managed accordingly.  There are plenty of safe places to cruise in Berlin, like Lab, Scheune, Bull, Woof, New Action to name a few.   

Sorry this is long and rambling but it has been somewhat therapeutic to write it down and get it out of my head.  I just hope someone is more careful as a result of reading it and avoids trouble themselves. 

 

You decided to go cruise the park at Tiergarten... Well, outdoors cruising is far from safe, in any country. Park cruising is not really a good idea. If you stick to controlled areas only, like saunas, sex clubs and the likes, you will probably never have a bad experience. Just be patient until interesting players come to you... or you go to them!