TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - At least one person was killed and 16 others were injured after a vehicle rammed into a crowd near Berlin's Christopher Street Day (CSD) Pride celebrations on Saturday night, prompting German authorities to launch a citywide manhunt for a suspect believed to have links to the city's Islamist scene.
The attack occurred near Tiergarten Park, close to the route of one of Europe's largest LGBTQ+ Pride events, which attracts hundreds of thousands of participants from Germany and abroad each year. As reported by DW (Deutsche Welle), police said a white minivan or compact SUV drove into the crowd before fleeing the scene, leaving one woman dead and several others critically injured.
Police spokesperson Florian Nath said investigators had identified a suspect who was already known to authorities and was believed to be associated with "the Islamist scene in Berlin." However, no arrests had been made as of Sunday, and investigators had not ruled out the possibility that others were involved.
Authorities said three of the 16 injured sustained life-threatening injuries, while Berlin's fire department reported that eight victims suffered serious injuries and five others sustained minor wounds.
More than 2,200 police officers, including reinforcements from Hamburg and other German states, were deployed to search for the suspect and secure the area. Police closed off Tiergarten Park overnight as forensic teams examined the scene.
"We are now piecing together the facts based on the evidence found at the scene," Nath said. "The search radius covers the entire city."
The attack forced organizers to end the Pride celebrations earlier than planned. Concerts near the Brandenburg Gate were halted at around 10:15 p.m. local time, and authorities instructed participants to leave the area and avoid routes passing through Tiergarten.
Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner condemned the incident as "an attack on our free and open society," saying the city's values of diversity and freedom had been targeted.
"After a peaceful and colorful CSD, the assembly for a tolerant and peaceful Berlin was attacked in the most brutal way," Wegner wrote on social media. "Berlin is the city of freedom, and our freedom has been attacked in the most horrific way today."
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also denounced the attack, pledging that authorities would thoroughly investigate the incident and ensure those responsible faced justice.
According to Politico, Merz said he and Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt would ensure "this horrific act is fully investigated and punished."
Berlin's Christopher Street Day, first held in 1979, is Germany's oldest Pride event. Named after Christopher Street in New York City, where the 1969 Stonewall uprising took place, the annual march has evolved into one of Europe's largest LGBTQ+ rights demonstrations.
The latest incident also revived concerns over vehicle attacks in Germany. The country has experienced several high-profile car-ramming attacks in recent years, including the 2016 Berlin Christmas market attack that killed 12 people, the 2024 Magdeburg Christmas market attack that left at least two people dead, and another fatal vehicle attack in Leipzig earlier this year.
While investigators continue examining the motive behind Saturday's attack, authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant as the search for the suspect continues. According to DW, police said the investigation remains ongoing and further updates will be released as evidence is gathered.
Read: Eight Injured After Car Ploughs into Crowd in Italy's Modena
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
