Berlin Pride cancelled after vehicle attack leaves one dead and 16 injured

Berlin Pride cancelled after vehicle attack leaves one dead and 16 injured

A white van plowed into crowds gathered for Berlin's annual LGBTQ+ celebrations on Saturday, July 25, 2026, killing one person and injuring at least 16 others. The attack, which occurred around 10 p.m. Near Lennéstraße, forced the immediate cancellation of the remaining Christopher Street Day (CSD) festivities and a planned concert in the German capital.

Berlin police report that the vehicle drove into the Tiergarten park, hitting multiple people along Ahornsteig before coming to a standstill after colliding with a tree. Emergency personnel reported that some of the injured suffered life-threatening injuries. While most victims were struck by the vehicle, police are investigating witness accounts that some individuals on the ground suffered stab wounds.

The incident brought an abrupt end to one of Europe's largest LGBTQ+ events, which had drawn hundreds of thousands of people to the city. The parade, which featured around 80 floats, had proceeded peacefully for hours before the attack. The program was interrupted during a Michael Jackson show, at which point the CSD board announced the premature end of the event.

Organizers used social media and on-site screens displaying the word Evacuation to instruct revelers to leave the area calmly in the direction of the main train station and to avoid the Victory Column and the Tiergarten. More than 40 emergency services personnel descended on the scene, and a police helicopter was used to illuminate the site and search for the driver.

Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner described the event as an attack on a free and open society and a cosmopolitan society, stating that the rally for a tolerant Berlin was attacked in the most brutal manner.

The suspect fled the scene on foot. Police spokesman Florian Nath confirmed the vehicle was a small white minivan, though he noted the vehicle had endured significant damage. Investigators are currently unsure if they are searching for one or more suspects. Police spokesman Alexander Klute stated that authorities currently have no information regarding the identity of the perpetrator or possible motives.

The security operation for the weekend was extensive, with more than 2,200 police officers on duty since Saturday morning to protect the parade and associated events. Following the attack, a major police operation was launched in the Tiergarten district, and a helicopter landing pad was reportedly established in front of the Reichstag.

The British Embassy in Berlin advised British nationals in the Tiergarten area to follow local police instructions and provided a contact number for those in need of assistance.

City authorities have activated a crisis hotline for people missing family or friends. Police are continuing to conduct witness interrogations and have called for the public to share any photos or videos taken at the scene. Investigation efforts remain ongoing to track down the perpetrators.