Berlin manhunt intensifies after vehicle attack at Pride event leaves one dead
Authorities have launched a city-wide search for 21-year-old Abdul B following a ramming and stabbing incident at Christopher Street Day, which resulted in one fatality and 16 injuries.
Berlin police have initiated an intensive manhunt across the German capital after a white vehicle was driven into crowds at the Christopher Street Day Pride event on Saturday night. The incident, which occurred at approximately 22:00 local time in Tiergarten park, has resulted in one woman being killed and 16 others injured. Some of the victims sustained stab wounds during the attack.
The event, which draws hundreds of thousands of attendees to the area near the Brandenburg Gate, was abruptly cancelled shortly after the vehicle struck the crowd. Organisers halted performances and instructed attendees to evacuate, with the word 'Evacuation' projected onto stage screens. Unverified footage circulated on social media showed large groups of people fleeing the scene as emergency vehicles responded to the disturbance.
Police confirmed the identity of the primary suspect as 21-year-old Abdul B, noting that his surname is withheld in accordance with German law prohibiting the naming of suspects at this stage. Authorities stated that the individual has known connections to Islamist circles and is believed to be armed and dangerous. The suspect was reportedly wearing a black hooded top and white trousers at the time of the incident.
The vehicle used in the attack was located abandoned after crashing into a tree in the park. Police have indicated that one or more individuals may have fled the vehicle, suggesting the possibility of additional accomplices. Consequently, the search area has been expanded to encompass the entire city, with thousands of officers, including those from surrounding German states, deployed to locate the suspect or suspects.
No motive for the attack has been established, and no arrests have been made. Police have urged the public to come forward with any relevant information but have explicitly warned against engaging with the suspect. The attack took place on Ahornsteig, a long path within the forested section of Tiergarten park, near the Victory Column monument.
