Berlin Pride attacker still at large: one dead, at least 29 hurt after truck rams Tiergarten crowd
A rented delivery truck ploughed into thousands gathered for Berlin's Christopher Street Day parade near the Brandenburg Gate late Saturday, killing one person and injuring at least 29, three of them critically.
The attack
A white van struck pedestrians around 10 p.m. Saturday near the Brandenburg Gate, driving into the Tiergarten park and hitting multiple people before it came to a halt against a tree. Celebrations were due to run until midnight but were immediately suspended after the crash. Witnesses told police that one or more occupants fled the vehicle, and several bystanders reported being attacked with knives afterwards. The mayor of Berlin, Kai Wegner, said a city "open to the world, tolerant and peaceful was struck in the most terrible way in its freedom."
The suspect
German authorities on Sunday identified the suspect as Abdul B., a 21-year-old Berlin native. He is slim, approximately 1.90 metres tall, with black hair, and at the time of the crime wore a black hooded sweatshirt and white trousers. Police warned the public to avoid any direct contact, describing him as "armed and dangerous." Investigators believe he did not act alone and are searching for at least one accomplice.
He is known as a member of Islamic circles here in Berlin, and our search for this person is proceeding at full speed.
Police spokesman Florian Nath also noted that officers still have "no information about specific motives, the exact sequence of events, or the role the suspect played in the crime." The suspect has links to Islamic groups in the capital; a photograph was released Sunday morning.
## Casualties One person was killed and at least 29 were wounded, three of them in life-threatening condition. Earlier reports on Sunday morning put the injured at 16. Some of the wounded suffered knife injuries, but police cautioned it was "too early" to draw conclusions.
- White delivery van strikes crowd near Brandenburg Gate and enters Tiergarten park
- Vehicle hits a tree and stops; occupant(s) flee; witnesses report knife attacks
- Remainder of Christopher Street Day celebrations suspended
- Police release identity of suspect Abdul B., 21, and warn he is armed and dangerous
- Chancellor Merz and European Parliament President Metsola issue statements of condemnation and solidarity
- Police confirm one dead, at least 29 injured, three in life-threatening condition; suspect still at large
Political reaction
Chancellor Friedrich Merz was briefed immediately after the events and has remained in close contact with Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and Berlin security authorities. Merz pledged that the perpetrators of "this abhorrent act will be punished with the utmost severity." Dobrindt is in "constant dialogue" with state-level authorities and offered federal support.
The attack will be investigated and punished with full severity.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola expressed condolences on social media, stating that "hatred and violence have no place in a Europe of freedom and respect. We will remain united against those who seek to sow fear and division." The interior ministry announced that "everything points to a terrorist attack."
## Context The Christopher Street Day parade is one of Europe's largest LGBTQ+ events, drawing hundreds of thousands of people across several days in the German capital. Germany has endured similar vehicle attacks in public spaces in recent years; the most severe also struck Berlin in 2016, when a truck ploughed into a Christmas market and killed 12 people. Saturday's assault is the latest in a pattern of violent attacks targeting crowded public gatherings.
