Berlin Pride march attack suspect identified; police cite "Islamist networks"

A suspect has been identified but not yet apprehended in connection with a vehicle attack that killed one person and injured 16 at a Berlin Pride march, police said.

The white van plowed into crowds on Saturday evening in the Tiergarten park, a central Berlin location where thousands were celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride Day. The driver fled the scene, and a manhunt is underway across the German capital.

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We are currently talking about 17 directly affected, and one of them died after resuscitation attempts. We have several seriously injured people whose lives are feared for.

"We are currently talking about 17 directly affected, and one of them died after resuscitation attempts," said Berlin police spokesperson Florian Nath. "We have several seriously injured people whose lives are feared for."

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The chancellor and the minister of the interior think of the victims and their families. Both thank the security forces for their intervention and will commit with special firmness to clarify and punish this atrocious act.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned the "atrocious act" and pledged to "clarify and punish" those responsible. Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner, who visited the scene, called the incident "horrible" and lamented the shift from a "peaceful demonstration, full of love and joy to an act with one dead and many injured."

The attack occurred in an area not far from the Brandenburg Gate, a location that had been celebrating Pride Day, known in Germany as CSD (Christopher Street Day), in a festive and peaceful atmosphere. Authorities are investigating how a vehicle entered the protected zone.

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We have gone from a peaceful demonstration, full of love and joy to an act with one dead and many injured.