Berlin Pride cancelled after van ploughs into crowd, killing one
A white van struck attendees at the Christopher Street Day celebrations in Tiergarten park, resulting in one fatality and at least 15 injuries, including cases with life-threatening conditions.
Berlin police have cancelled the evening programme of the city’s annual LGBTQ+ Pride celebrations, known as Christopher Street Day, following a vehicle incident that killed one person and injured at least 15 others. The white van ploughed into crowds gathered in Tiergarten park, near the Brandenburg Gate, before crashing into a tree, prompting an immediate emergency response and the suspension of the event.
Authorities confirmed that some victims sustained life-threatening injuries while firefighters, ambulances, and event emergency staff treated the wounded on site. Police spokesperson Alexander Klute told The Associated Press that investigators currently have no information regarding the motives, the identity of the perpetrator, or the number of individuals involved. The incident occurred at approximately 10:15 p.m., interrupting a band’s performance and leading officers to urge attendees to leave the area and avoid routes through the park.
Berlin police officer Florian Nath stated in a video posted to the force’s X account that an intensive search for possible suspects is underway. A large number of officers were deployed to the scene to secure the area and manage the aftermath. The event, which is one of Europe’s largest LGBTQ+ celebrations, had drawn hundreds of thousands of people for a parade featuring around 80 floats and hours of peaceful marching earlier in the day.
Julian Miethig, an attendee who had been present at the Brandenburg Gate earlier, described the scene as shocking upon arriving to find numerous emergency vehicles. He remarked that the attack represented a dark day for the community, highlighting the abrupt end to what had been a significant public gathering. The exact number of casualties may change as emergency services continue to treat the injured, and the investigation into the circumstances remains active.
The incident has drawn attention to security protocols at major public events, particularly given recent tensions regarding LGBTQ+ gatherings in the region, such as the detention of dozens at a Pride event in Istanbul by Turkish police. However, local authorities in Berlin have focused their immediate efforts on the manhunt and the care of those affected, with no definitive conclusions drawn regarding the nature of the attack at this stage.
