Police ID suspect after van slams into crowd at Berlin’s Pride event, killing 1 and injuring 16

 

A van drove into a crowd near Berlin’s largest LGBTQ+ Pride celebration late Saturday evening, leaving one person dead and 16 others injured. Authorities have launched a large-scale search for the suspected driver, who fled the scene after the incident.

According to police, the vehicle struck pedestrians in Berlin’s Tiergarten park, located in the heart of the city, where thousands of people had gathered as part of the Pride festivities.

Law enforcement officials stated that the suspect was previously known to police because of connections to Islamic circles in Berlin. However, authorities have not provided additional details about those associations. Investigators have not yet confirmed whether the incident is officially being treated as a terrorist attack.

People who witnessed the event described a sudden sense of panic after hearing what they called a loud, dull impact. The collision occurred in Tiergarten, close to the route where the Pride parade had taken place earlier in the day.

Police reported that the van entered the park shortly before 10:00 p.m., drove into a group of pedestrians, and then continued until it crashed into a tree. The driver abandoned the vehicle and escaped before officers arrived.

One eyewitness recalled hearing a heavy thud followed by several other loud noises as confusion spread through the area.

The witness explained that, because of the music, celebrations, and festive atmosphere, many people initially did not realize that an emergency had occurred. It was only after heavily armed police officers entered the park, secured the area, and instructed everyone to leave that the seriousness of the situation became clear.

Berlin police identified the primary suspect as 21-year-old Abdul B., alleging that he intentionally drove a vehicle into a group of people, causing multiple injuries. The information was released in an official statement published after the attack.

According to investigators, one or more individuals are believed to have left the van after it came to a stop. Police also reported that several victims suffered injuries caused by bladed weapons, suggesting that the violence may have continued after the vehicle struck the crowd. Authorities are working to determine exactly how many people were involved and what role each individual may have played.

Large-Scale Search Underway

Before the attack, the Pride celebration had unfolded peacefully. Thousands of participants spent hours marching through Berlin’s streets, dancing to music, and applauding approximately 80 decorated floats that formed part of the annual parade.

The atmosphere changed dramatically after the incident. Emergency responders, including paramedics and firefighters, rushed to the scene to treat the injured while police secured the area.

Following the attack, Berlin police issued an urgent message on the social media platform X, instructing everyone at the event to leave the area immediately so emergency services could respond safely and investigators could begin their work.

Authorities have since launched an intensive search for those believed to be responsible and continue gathering evidence to establish the full sequence of events surrounding the attack.

Police have launched an extensive operation to locate anyone responsible for the attack. In a video shared on the Berlin Police account on X, police spokesperson Florian Nath confirmed that officers were carrying out an intensive search for possible suspects and urged the public to remain alert while the investigation continued.

Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner condemned the violence, expressing deep shock over the incident. He said the attack had targeted what had begun as a peaceful and joyful Pride celebration, describing it as a brutal assault on the city's values of tolerance, diversity, and peaceful coexistence.

In response to the emergency, city officials activated a crisis hotline to assist people who were unable to locate relatives or friends who had attended the event. The service was established to help families obtain information and support during the aftermath of the attack.

Security had already been significantly increased before the incident. According to reports, more than 2,200 police officers had been deployed across Berlin since Saturday morning to provide protection for the Pride parade and other LGBTQ+ events taking place throughout the city. Following the attack, law enforcement expanded its response while emergency crews continued assisting victims and investigators worked to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident.