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BERLIN (AP) — A tragic incident unfolded at Berlin's annual LGBTQ+ Pride celebrations on Saturday night when a van drove into a crowd, killing one person and injuring at least 16 others. The attack forced authorities to cancel the remaining festivities and a scheduled concert just hours after the event had begun.
Berlin police said they have identified a suspect but have not yet made an arrest. According to police spokesperson Florian Nath, the individual is known to law enforcement because of connections to Islamist extremist circles in Berlin.
"The suspect is known to police. He has links to Islamist circles in the city, and our search is continuing with full urgency," Nath said, without revealing the suspect's identity.
Earlier, officials reported that several of the injured were in critical condition. Police urged everyone attending the event to leave the area immediately while emergency medical teams and firefighters responded to the scene.
Authorities also confirmed that an extensive manhunt is underway to locate anyone who may have been involved.
According to investigators, the white van entered Tiergarten Park at around 10:00 p.m., an area adjacent to the route of the Pride march, and struck multiple pedestrians before crashing into a tree. Police have not disclosed the exact number of officers at the scene but described the deployment as substantial.
Security had already been heightened for the event, with more than 2,200 police officers assigned across Berlin throughout the day to protect the Pride parade and related LGBTQ+ gatherings.
Here is a rewritten, original version in English that preserves the key facts:
Throughout the night, police continued interviewing witnesses in Tiergarten Park as investigators worked to reconstruct the events. Authorities were also examining reports suggesting that some victims may have sustained stab wounds in addition to injuries from the vehicle. However, officials emphasized that it was too early to confirm those claims or determine whether they were connected to the incident.
Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner condemned the attack, saying it came after what had been a peaceful and joyful Pride celebration.
"After a peaceful and vibrant Pride parade, the gathering for a tolerant and open Berlin was attacked in the most brutal way," Wegner said.
He described the incident as an attack on Berlin's free and diverse society and expressed confidence that police and security agencies would conduct a thorough investigation around the clock.
Authorities appealed to anyone who witnessed the incident to contact police and provide any photos or videos that could assist investigators. The city also established a crisis hotline for people trying to locate missing relatives or friends.
Earlier that day, hundreds of thousands of people had gathered for Berlin's annual Christopher Street Day (CSD) parade, one of Europe's largest LGBTQ+ events.
Pride Celebration Cut Short
Following the incident, officials canceled the Pride festivities taking place near the Brandenburg Gate, close to Tiergarten. The event was officially called off at around 10:15 p.m., and a live musical performance on the main stage was interrupted. Organizers urged attendees to leave the area safely and avoid routes passing through the park.
Before the tragedy, the atmosphere had been festive, with participants marching through the city, dancing to music, and celebrating alongside approximately 80 colorful parade floats.
One attendee, Julian Miethig, said he had left the celebration near the Brandenburg Gate intending to attend an after-party when a friend informed him that a serious incident had occurred.
"I heard something terrible had happened. There were fire trucks, emergency vehicles, and ambulances everywhere," he said.
After arriving near Tiergarten, Miethig said he was deeply shocked that such violence could occur during Berlin's Pride celebrations.
"It's a dark day for the community," he said.
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