Police said some of the victims had life-threatening injuries – Image: Christian Mang/REUTERS
Police said around 15 people were injured, some seriously, after a white van struck several people in central Berlin during Pride celebrations, known locally as Christopher Street Day (CSD). A manhunt is underway.
At least one person has died and 16 people were injured, “some seriously”, police said, after a vehicle was suspected of striking a crowd near Berlin’s annual Pride event, Christopher Street Day (CSD), on Saturday night.
“We believe that a vehicle entered the Tiergarten park and hit several people,” police said on social media.
Berlin’s CSD is one of Europe’s biggest Pride events celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. It attracts tens of thousands of visitors from around the world each year.
What do we know about the incident at the Berlin CSD event?
Three of the 16 injured had suffered “life-threatening injuries,” police spokesperson Florian Nath told reporters at the scene.
He added that more than 2,200 personnel were involved in the police response, including officers from Hamburg and other federal states.
It was unclear whether there was one or multiple perpetrators, Nath said, confirming that a manhunt was underway. No arrests have been made yet.
Wegner said he was confident police would ‘investigate at full speed’ – Image: Fabian Sommer/dpa/picture alliance
The vehicle in question is a white minivan or compact SUV, he said.
DW reporters on the scene in Berlin said police officers armed with machine guns were patrolling the streets of the German capital.
Berlin mayor, Chancellor Merz condemn ‘horrific’ act
Police have not commented on whether the incident was intentional or if the CSD was the target.
Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner, however, who visited the scene, described it as “an attack on our free and open society.”
“After a peaceful and colorful CSD, the assembly for a tolerant and peaceful Berlin was attacked in the most brutal way. Berlin is the city of freedom, and our freedom has been attacked in the most horrific way today,” Wegner said on X.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also condemned what he called a “horrific act.”
In a statement, Merz said he and Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt would ensure “this horrific act is fully investigated and punished.”
Queer Berlin Liaison Officer and LGBTQ+ activist Alfonso Pantisano said, “Today is a day of great mourning for the queer community.”
Police told those attending a concert as part of the CSD event to leave the premises of the event immediately – Image: Fabian Sommer/dpa/picture alliance
Pride parade participants told to ‘go home, please’
Hundreds of thousands of people had taken to the streets of Berlin on Saturday to advocate for tolerance and diversity, culminating in concerts at the Brandenburg Gate.
The event was called off around 10:15 p.m., and a band’s performance was interrupted. Authorities urged people to “go home, please,” and avoid routes through Tiergarten.
The CSD parade ended on 17 June Street, which crosses Berlin’s Tiergarten to the Brandenburg Gate. The Gate has been the venue for concerts since Friday.
Berlin’s CSD was first held in 1979, making it Germany’s oldest Pride event.
It has evolved from a small protest into a major fixture of the city’s cultural and political calendar.
DW.com/NAN 26-07-26
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