Berlin police are hunting for a suspect with known ties to local Islamic "circles" after a car crashed into a crowd at the city's annual LGBTQ+ pride parade on Saturday, killing one person and injuring at least 16 others.
The vehicle drove into the Tiergarten park, close to the route of the pride march, striking multiple people. Emergency personnel, including numerous firefighters and ambulances, rushed to the scene to treat victims, some of whom sustained life-threatening injuries. Police quickly urged the public to vacate the area and launched a massive search operation.
Berlin police spokesman Florian Nath confirmed that investigators have identified a suspect, describing him as a Berlin resident already known to law enforcement. "Based on the investigators' initial findings, we have already identified a suspected perpetrator," Nath told reporters, adding that "he is known to us as a member of Islamic circles here in Berlin." Nath emphasized that "our search for this person is proceeding at full speed," though he did not release the suspect's name.
The tragedy struck during Christopher Street Day, one of Europe's largest LGBTQ+ celebrations, which had drawn hundreds of thousands of participants to the German capital. Before the crash, the atmosphere was peaceful and festive, featuring around 80 floats, hours of marching, and dancing. However, the event near the city's iconic Brandenburg Gate was abruptly called off at approximately 10:15 p.m., halting a live band's performance. Attendees were instructed to return home and steer clear of the Tiergarten park route.
Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner condemned the incident, expressing deep shock. "Following a peaceful and vibrant pride parade, the rally for a tolerant and peaceful Berlin was attacked in the most brutal manner," Wegner stated. He characterized the event as "an attack on our free and cosmopolitan society" and expressed his full confidence in the police and security authorities "who will be working around the clock to investigate."
Attendees described the sudden transition from celebration to chaos. Julian Miethig, who was heading to an afterparty after celebrating at the Brandenburg Gate, recalled being alerted by a friend that "something bad happened there and there are a lot of fire trucks, a lot of emergency vehicles, ambulances." He said he went to Tiergarten and was shocked that something like this could have happened at Berlin's pride celebrations. "It's a dark day for the community," he said.
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Md. Kazi Bijoy is a dedicated tech enthusiast and content creator with a passion for digital innovation. With years of experience in the tech industry, he specializes in breaking down complex topics into easy-to-understand guides. When he isn’t writing, he explores the latest gadgets and researches emerging trends in the digital world.