One person has been killed and at least 16 others injured after a vehicle drove into a crowd during Berlin’s annual Pride celebrations.
The incident happened shortly after 10:00 p.m. local time near the Brandenburg Gate, where thousands of people had gathered for the finale of the Christopher Street Day event.
Berlin police said they had identified a male suspect who is known to authorities. He also has links to the Islamist spectrum. However, he has not been arrested, and a citywide manhunt remains underway.
Authorities said the annual Pride event was immediately cancelled following the attack.
Witnesses told local media that a white van sped into the crowd before coming to a stop after crashing into a tree inside the nearby Tiergarten park. Police later found the abandoned vehicle at the scene.
Emergency responders treated multiple victims, including several with life-threatening injuries. Images from the area showed a heavy deployment of police officers, firefighters and ambulances.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the attack would be fully investigated and those responsible would be punished.
Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner described the incident as an attack on the city’s free and open society. He expressed sympathy for the victims and praised emergency services for their swift response.
Christopher Street Day is Germany’s largest Pride celebration, attracting around one million participants each year. It is done to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall uprising in New York.
