Berlin techno parade 'Zug der Liebe' cancelled after Islamist attack on CSD, 'Rave the Planet' to go ahead

Attack on CSD prompts cancellation

On the evening of Saturday, July 25, a man drove a van into a group of visitors at the Christopher Street Day (CSD) event in Berlin's Tiergarten park. The attack, which authorities described as Islamist-motivated, killed one woman and injured 31 people, some seriously. The attacker was shot dead by police the following day during an attempted arrest. The incident has triggered a city-wide debate on security for large public gatherings.

Zug der Liebe organisers cite 'drastically changed' climate

On July 30, the organisers of the "Zug der Liebe" techno parade announced that the event, planned for August 29, would not take place. In a statement, they said the attack had "drastically changed" the situation. They also cited logistical problems, including a shortage of trucks and unresolved negotiations with authorities over noise levels. However, they stressed that the decisive factor was the "perceptible change in the social climate."

The recent events surrounding the CSD have drastically changed the situation.

The organisers said that holding the parade this year would have meant massive conditions: physical barriers, thorough personal checks, and a heavily armed police presence. This, they argued, would contradict the event's spirit.

The Zug der Liebe has always stood for a carefree, fearless space of protest. A demonstration under the current general feeling of fear and such restrictive conditions fundamentally contradicts the basic idea of the event.

Jens Schwan, press spokesperson and co-founder, told rbb24 that "it is not the right time to celebrate on the streets." The parade, which would have been its 11th edition, drew around 10,000 participants last year.

Trucks redirected to support RAW-Gelände protest

Instead of the parade, the organisers will use the remaining trucks to support a simultaneous demonstration for the preservation of the RAW-Gelände, a cultural site in Berlin. "Instead of disappearing quietly, we are pooling our forces for direct support of Berlin's threatened cultural landscape," the statement said.

Rave the Planet to go ahead on August 15

The separate "Rave the Planet" techno parade, scheduled for August 15 on the Straße des 17. Juni between the Brandenburg Gate and the Victory Column, will still take place. The route runs through the Tiergarten, the same park where the attack occurred. Matthias Roeingh, known as Dr. Motte and founder of Rave The Planet, said: "We have thought a lot. We have heard what the community wants." His wife and project leader Ellen Dosch-Roeingh confirmed: "The parade will take place."

Timm Zeiß, managing director of Rave The Planet, said there was currently no reason to cancel, but details on possible route changes or additional security measures have not yet been discussed. The organisers are in regular contact with security authorities and will provide updates later. The event, now in its fifth year, is expected to feature more than 300 artists under the motto "Imagine Love."

Background: a Love Parade successor

The "Zug der Liebe" was founded as a successor to the Love Parade, which ended after a mass panic in Duisburg in 2010 killed 21 people. Since 2015, the event has drawn more than 10,000 participants annually to Berlin's city centre, promoting tolerance, diversity, and solidarity. Last year's themes included compassion, social justice, climate change, and transport transition. The cancellation comes as other German cities, such as Hamburg, are increasing police presence for upcoming CSD events.