A tragic incident occurred on Saturday night in central Berlin when a white vehicle drove into a crowd participating in the city's annual Christopher Street Day (CSD) Pride celebrations. Authorities confirmed that at least one person has died, and 16 others sustained injuries, some of which are life-threatening. Police spokesperson Florian Nath reported that three of the injured individuals are in critical condition.
The vehicle, described by police as a white minivan or compact SUV, entered the Tiergarten park area and struck several attendees. In response to the attack, a major security operation was launched, involving more than 2,200 personnel, including officers deployed from Hamburg and other federal states. Armed police officers were seen patrolling the German capital in the aftermath of the collision.
Regarding the investigation, Florian Nath stated that a suspect has been identified who was already known to police and is believed to have associations with the Islamist scene in Berlin. Authorities have not yet made any arrests, and it remains unclear if other perpetrators were involved. Police reported early Sunday morning that the Tiergarten area remained cordoned off as they conducted a thorough search of the city. Nath noted that investigators are currently piecing together evidence found at the scene and will continue their work in daylight to ensure a meticulous examination.
The event, which is one of Europe's largest LGBTQ+ gatherings, attracts tens of thousands of visitors annually. On Saturday, hundreds of thousands had gathered to advocate for diversity and tolerance, with festivities culminating in concerts at the Brandenburg Gate. Following the incident, authorities officially called off the event at approximately 10:15 p.m., interrupting a band's performance and urging participants to vacate the area and avoid routes through the Tiergarten.
Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner visited the scene and condemned the event as a brutal attack on the city's open and free society. On social media, he described the incident as a horrific assault on the values of a tolerant and peaceful Berlin. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also issued a statement, labeling the act as horrific and promising that he and Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt would ensure the incident is fully investigated and punished.
First established in 1979, the Berlin CSD is the oldest Pride event in Germany, taking its name from Christopher Street in New York, the site of the 1969 Stonewall riots. The parade had concluded on 17 June Street, which runs through the Tiergarten toward the Brandenburg Gate, before the violence occurred.
