Organizers of Fierté Montreal say they will be enhancing security measures following an attack at Berlin Pride that left one dead and several injured over the weekend. Fierté Montreal is set to launch its 20th edition on Friday, with events running through Aug. 9. “Following tragic events such as the recent attack in Berlin, and with our Festival taking place in just one week, we are exercising heightened vigilance and reviewing every aspect of our operations to maximize the safety of participants, attendees, and staff,” a spokesperson said Monday. On Saturday, a suspect drove a van into a crowd near Berlin’s Pride festival before stabbing other people with a machete in what officials described as a terrorist attack. The suspect, identified as Abdul Ballout, who had previously sought to join the Islamic State terrorist organization, was shot and killed in a police operation Sunday in Berlin. Fierté Montreal said the incident is a reminder to be vigilant and that public safety is a top priority. For example, Sainte-Catherine Street in Montreal’s Village neighbourhood, which is already pedestrian-only for the summer, will have additional concrete barriers and other protective installations along cycling paths, organizers say. Police vehicles will block all cross streets and other points along the route of the parade, which takes place on the last day on Aug. 9. Roughly 300 security personnel will also be working for the parade. Fierté Montreal says 10 per cent its overall budget is dedicated to security measures and organizers work closely with Montreal police, the Sûreté du Québec, and other public safety partners for the annual event. The group said that events taking place at the Olympic Park, such as the Mega T-Dance, already benefit from a secure perimeter, and that visitors will need to pass through a metal detector to gain access the venue. “The events that took place in Berlin deeply sadden us. We express our full solidarity with the organization, those affected, their loved ones, and the entire community,” said interim executive director Higino Monteiro in a statement. “We strongly condemn this attack and call for unity within our movements to support our communities and protect the spaces that allow all people to live their identities freely, celebrate, and advocate for their rights in safety.” More information about the 10-day event is available at fiertemontreal.com.
