Berlin Pride Parade Attack Leaves One Dead, 16 Injured; Suspect Sought

German police are searching for a 21-year-old man suspected of driving a vehicle into a gay pride parade in Berlin on Saturday evening, resulting in at least one death and 16 injuries. Authorities have indicated that the suspect has ties to "Islamic circles."

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An attack on our free and open society.

The suspect, whose first name is reportedly "Abd al-B...", is described as being 1.90 meters tall. Following the vehicle incident, several passersby reported being subjected to stabbings. Emergency services reported that at least one person died and 16 were injured, with 11 of those sustaining critical injuries. Additionally, 30 witnesses who were in shock received immediate on-site care.

The vehicle, identified as a minivan or small SUV, was found completely wrecked in the Tiergarten park, where the parade was scheduled to conclude. The attack occurred hundreds of meters from the main parade activities in front of the Brandenburg Gate. Police spokesperson Florian Naß stated that a "large number" of officers were deployed, with reinforcements brought in from other German regions. Helicopters equipped with thermal cameras were used in the search.

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The gathering for a tolerant and peaceful Berlin was targeted in the most brutal way.

Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner condemned the incident as an "attack on our free and open society," while Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt referred to it as an "attack." The government spokesperson stated that Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his interior minister would "seek to fully uncover the circumstances of this heinous act and ensure that its perpetrators are punished." The incident occurs two months before elections in Berlin, with polls showing a close race between Merz's CDU party, the far-right, and the radical left.

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The suspect is linked to 'Islamic circles'.