Man dies after assault during German gay pride march

A 25-year-old man assaulted when he moved to protect a group of women during a gay pride march in the German city of Münster last weekend died, reported dpa.

He had been taken to hospital, but died on Friday as a result of his injuries.

Police and prosecutors in the city said the man, who had been placed in an induced coma, died early on Friday.

He is reported to have intervened when an as-yet unidentified assailant began insulting a group of women, calling them "lesbian whores," telling them to "piss off" and making threatening gestures during a Christopher Street Day parade in Münster on Saturday.

Christopher Street Day celebrates the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) community, in an event dating back to police storming a bar in New York that triggered a movement demanding gay rights.

"The attempts at mediation by the young man are reported to have been the cause of the attack," police and prosecutors said.

According to information released earlier by the investigating officers, the man lost his balance before being hit again in the face. He had then lost consciousness and fallen with his head onto the road surface, they reported.

His assailant, described as aged between 18 and 20, fled on foot along with an associate. He is reported to have been of slight build and wearing jeans, a T-shirt and a fishing hat.