A van slammed into a crowd gathered for Berlin's Christopher Street Day Pride parade on Saturday evening, resulting in one death and at least 16 injuries, according to police. The incident occurred around 10 pm in Tiergarten park, adjacent to the parade route, prompting authorities to call off the celebrations and a concert at the Brandenburg Gate.
Attack at Berlin Pride
Emergency services rushed to the scene as ambulances and firefighters attended to the victims. Police reported that some of the injured sustained life-threatening wounds. The white van struck several people before colliding with a tree in the park. Witness accounts also suggested that some victims had suffered stab wounds, but investigators cautioned that it was too early to draw conclusions.
Suspect Identified with Islamic Extremist Ties
Berlin police spokesman Florian Nath confirmed that a suspect has been identified and is being actively sought. “The suspect is known to police. He is known to us as a member of Islamic circles here in Berlin, and our search for this person is proceeding at full speed,” Nath said in a video statement. The suspect has not been arrested, and authorities are conducting an intensive search.
Overall, more than 2,200 police officers had been deployed since Saturday morning to protect the pride parade and other LGBTQ+ events across the city. Police are conducting witness interrogations and have called on the public to share any video or photos from the scene.
City Reacts: Mayor Calls Attack on Free Society
Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner expressed shock and condemned the violence. “Following a peaceful and vibrant pride parade, the rally for a tolerant and peaceful Berlin was attacked in the most brutal manner,” Wegner said. “This is an attack on our free and cosmopolitan society. I have confidence in the police and security authorities, who will be working around the clock to investigate.”
The city activated a crisis hotline for people searching for missing friends or family members.
Pride Parade Cancelled After Incident
Hundreds of thousands had gathered earlier in the day for the parade, one of Europe's largest LGBTQ+ celebrations. Floats, music, and dancing marked the peaceful march through the city. However, around 10:15 pm, the event at the Brandenburg Gate was called off, and a band's performance was interrupted. Attendees were urged to leave and avoid the Tiergarten area.
Julian Miethig, who had attended the LGBTQ+ party, said he heard from a friend about the emergency vehicles and went to Tiergarten. “It's a dark day for the community,” he said, expressing shock that such an attack could occur during Berlin's pride celebrations.
Authorities continue to investigate and have asked potential witnesses to come forward with any evidence.
