Berlin Pride horror: One dead, 16 injured after van ploughs into crowd

What began as a day of colour, music and celebration for hundreds of thousands of people at Berlin’s annual Christopher Street Day (CSD) Pride event ended in tragedy on Saturday July 24 night when a white van drove into crowds gathered near the parade route, killing one person and injuring at least 16 others.

The incident happened at around 10pm local time in Tiergarten Park, close to the Brandenburg Gate, where many participants had gathered for the final stages of one of Europe’s largest LGBTQ+ celebrations. The van struck people before crashing into a tree. When police reached the vehicle, it had been abandoned and the driver had fled on foot.

One person killed, several seriously injured

Emergency services flooded the area within minutes, treating casualties at the scene while others were rushed to hospital. Police confirmed one person had died and at least 16 others were injured, with several suffering life-threatening or serious injuries.

Authorities are also investigating reports that some victims may have sustained stab wounds. However, police have stressed that the exact sequence of events remains under investigation and have not yet confirmed how those injuries occurred.

Major manhunt underway

Berlin police launched a major search operation involving helicopters, specialist officers and forces from several German states after the suspect escaped. More than 2,200 officers had already been deployed across the city to police the Pride celebrations before the attack occurred.

On Sunday, police said they had identified a 21-year-old suspect who was already known to authorities as part of Berlin’s Islamist scene. Officers warned that the suspect should be considered dangerous and urged members of the public not to approach him while the manhunt continues. Investigators have not yet confirmed a motive for the attack.

Pride celebrations brought to an abrupt end

The attack forced organisers to cancel the remainder of Berlin’s Christopher Street Day celebrations, including a concert planned near the Brandenburg Gate. Crowds were asked to leave the area as police established a large security cordon and forensic teams began examining the scene. A public hotline was also set up for people trying to locate family members or friends who had attended the event.

Berlin’s Christopher Street Day is one of Europe’s biggest Pride events, attracting hundreds of thousands of participants every year. Named after New York’s Christopher Street, where the 1969 Stonewall uprising became a defining moment in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, the event celebrates equality while also campaigning against discrimination. This year’s parade featured more than 80 floats and carried the theme of defending democracy, diversity and human rights.

Leaders condemn attack

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the incident as “a horrible act” and expressed his sympathy to the victims and their families, while Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner said the violence was an attack on the city’s values of freedom, openness and diversity. Both pledged that those responsible would be brought to justice.

Police continue to appeal for witnesses, photographs and video footage as investigators work to establish exactly what happened and why. At this stage, authorities say the motive has not been confirmed and enquiries remain ongoing.