Berlin Pride parade cancelled after car drove into crowd killing one
Authorities cancelled Christopher Street Day in Berlin after a vehicle strike left one person dead and at least 15 injured. Police have launched an intensive search for the driver.
Berlin Pride parade cancelled after car drove into crowd killing one
Authorities in Berlin called off the city's Pride celebrations on Saturday, after a vehicle drove into a crowd, killing one person and injuring at least 15 others. The event, known in Germany as Christopher Street Day, is one of the largest 2SLGBTQ+ celebrations in Europe.
The incident occurred in Tiergarten park, a central area near the Brandenburg Gate and the route the Pride march had followed earlier in the day. According to police, a white van drove into the park and struck several people before colliding with a tree.
Emergency responders, including ambulances and firefighters, deployed to the scene to treat the victims. Police stated that some of the injured suffered life-threatening injuries. While police initially reported that several people were hurt, the tabloid Bild and news agency DPA reported one death and 14 injuries, citing police sources. Other reports stated at least 15 were injured.
The attack brought an abrupt end to the festivities. The event in front of the Brandenburg Gate was cancelled at approximately 10:15 p.m. Local time. The interruption was so sudden that a band's performance on stage was cut short. Police urged the hundreds of thousands of attendees to go home and avoid the route through Tiergarten park.
A witness cited by Bild said a white van entered the crowd at high speed and a man exited the vehicle and fled on foot.
Berlin police launched a major operation in the Tiergarten district to locate the driver.
"We are conducting an intensive search for possible suspects,"
Police officer, via X
Spokesman Florian Nath provided further details in a video posted on X, stating that there was a strong police presence and paramedics from the Berlin fire service at the scene. He noted that a vehicle had allegedly driven into the park and hit several people, which is why multiple patients were being treated in the area.
Before the violence, the day had been peaceful. Hundreds of thousands of people marched through the city, dancing to loud music and cheering approximately 80 floats. Christopher Street Day, first held in West Berlin in 1979, evolved from a small demonstration into a major cultural and political fixture. The event commemorates the 1969 Stonewall uprising in New York and combines the parade with demands for protection against discrimination, inclusion, and equality.
Police could not specify the exact number of officers deployed to the scene but described the presence as "definitely a lot of police."
The police and interior ministry were not immediately available for comment following the crash. Authorities continue to conduct an urgent manhunt for one or more possible perpetrators.
