Vehicle mows down crowd at Berlin Pride festival, killing one, injuring 17

Tragedy struck near Berlin's Pride celebrations on Saturday evening when a vehicle drove into a crowd, killing one person and injuring 17 others, some critically. Police immediately launched a manhunt for the driver, who fled the scene after the incident occurred in the Tiergarten park, close to the Brandenburg Gate.

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According to our latest information, the vehicle drove ... into the Tiergarten around 10 p.m. (2000 GMT), injuring several people in the process, and then came to a standstill after hitting a tree here in the Tiergarten.

According to police, the vehicle entered the Tiergarten around 10 p.m., striking multiple people before coming to a stop after hitting a tree. The vehicle was described as white, possibly a car, minivan, or minibus. Tabloid newspaper Bild cited a witness who reported that a man exited the vehicle and fled on foot. The driver's identity and motive remain unknown, as police stated the vehicle was empty when it came to rest, intensifying efforts to track down the perpetrator.

Hours after the apparent attack, many details remained unclear. A fire brigade spokesperson confirmed that among the 17 injured, eight sustained serious injuries, with three in life-threatening condition. The incident cast a somber mood over the annual Christopher Street Day (CSD) celebrations, one of Europe's largest LGBTQ events, which had drawn hundreds of thousands of people peacefully to the German capital.

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It was empty, ⁠which is why we are currently working intensively to track down the perpetrator or perpetrators.

Julian Methig, an attendee, expressed his shock and sorrow, calling it "one of the worst days for the queer community." Christopher Street Day commemorates the 1969 Stonewall uprising and combines a parade with political advocacy for equality, inclusion, and protection against discrimination. The event, first held in West Berlin in 1979, has grown into a major fixture of the city's cultural and political calendar, featuring a parade alongside various political, cultural, and party events across the city.

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Among the 17 injured, eight had serious injuries and of those, three were in life-threatening condition.

This incident adds to a series of apparent attacks in Germany where vehicles have been used to target crowds. Recent years have seen similar events, including an incident in Leipzig in May where a man drove into a pedestrian zone, killing two and injuring three. Last year, two people died in Mannheim when a man drove into a group of pedestrians. An attack in Munich by an Afghan national on a trade union demonstration also resulted in two deaths and over 40 injuries. In December 2024, a car-ramming attack on a Christmas market in eastern Germany also caused fatalities.

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It’s one of the worst days for the queer community and a day I personally hoped I’d never have to experience ... I’m shocked.