A viral video showing attendees at a nightclub on the island of Sylt, Germany, engaging in racist chants and gestures has sparked widespread condemnation and a police investigation. The incident, which occurred during the recent holiday weekend, led to the nightclub reassessing its security measures and prominent figures expressing their dismay on social media.
A viral video showing a group of people engaging in racist chants on the island of Sylt, Germany, has triggered widespread outrage and a police investigation. The incident occurred outside the “Pony” nightclub in Kampen during the recent Whitsun bank holiday weekend. The video depicts attendees altering the lyrics of Italian DJ Gigi D’Agostino’s song “L’amour toujours” to “Foreigners out, Germany for the Germans.” One participant also mimicked Adolf Hitler by gesturing a short moustache and performing a Nazi salute, both of which are illegal in Germany.
The nightclub condemned the actions, stating on Instagram that they were “deeply shocked” and distancing themselves from all forms of racism. They also promised to bar anyone identified in the video from the premises and cooperate fully with authorities. Co-owner Tim Becker mentioned that CCTV footage confirmed the identities of some involved, though the racist chants appeared to be sung by a minority within the group.
Prominent figures, including satirical journalist Jan Böhmermann and Social Democrat politician Sawsan Chebli, expressed their dismay on social media. The incident coincided with Germany’s 75th anniversary of its constitution, known as the Basic Law, which enshrines the inviolability of human dignity.
The chant has been noted in other far-right gatherings across Germany over the past year, raising concerns about its spread. The police in Schleswig-Holstein are currently investigating the video for “criminally relevant” content, and the nightclub stated their intention to press charges against those responsible.
