Berlin: A day of celebration at one of Europe’s largest LGBTQ+ events ended in tragedy after a van rammed into a crowd near Berlin’s Pride celebrations on Saturday night, leaving one person dead and at least 16 others injured, several of them critically. German authorities have launched an extensive manhunt for the suspected driver, who police say has alleged links to Islamist extremist circles.
The incident occurred at around 10 p.m. in Tiergarten Park, close to the route of Berlin’s annual Christopher Street Day (CSD) Pride parade. According to investigators, a white van drove into pedestrians gathered near the event before crashing into a tree.
Berlin Police confirmed that the suspected driver has been identified but remains at large. While officials have not disclosed the individual’s identity, police spokesperson Florian Nath said the suspect was already known to law enforcement and had alleged connections with extremist networks operating in the German capital.
Following the incident, police immediately ordered the evacuation of the area, urging attendees to leave the venue to allow emergency teams to reach the injured. Ambulances, firefighters and police personnel rushed to the scene as rescue operations continued late into the night.
Authorities also said they are examining witness accounts suggesting that some victims may have suffered stab injuries in addition to those caused by the vehicle. Investigators stressed that it is too early to determine whether those reports are linked to the same incident.
More than 2,200 police officers had already been deployed across Berlin to secure the Pride parade and related events, making it one of the city’s largest security operations of the year.
Reacting to the attack, Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner condemned the incident, describing it as an assault on the city’s values of diversity and inclusion.
“What began as a peaceful celebration of tolerance has ended in violence. This is an attack on our open and democratic society,” the mayor said, expressing confidence that security agencies would identify those responsible.
As a precaution, organisers cancelled the remaining Pride festivities near the Brandenburg Gate, including scheduled stage performances. Attendees were instructed to avoid the Tiergarten area and disperse safely.
Police have appealed to members of the public who witnessed the incident to submit photographs, videos or any other information that could assist investigators. A crisis helpline has also been activated to help families locate loved ones who may have been attending the event.
The Berlin Pride parade, commonly known as Christopher Street Day, attracts hundreds of thousands of participants each year and is regarded as one of Europe’s most significant celebrations of LGBTQ+ rights and equality.
The motive behind the attack has not yet been officially established, and investigations remain ongoing.
