Berlin Pride Event Cancelled After Fatal Vehicle Incident
Berlin police are investigating after a vehicle drove into a crowd near the city’s annual Pride parade on Saturday, killing one person and injuring at least 15 others. Authorities said some of those injured were in life-threatening condition, while emergency crews deployed firefighters and ambulances to assist victims at the scene.
Police said a white van entered Tiergarten park, located just off the route used earlier by the parade, struck several people and then collided with a tree. Officials did not specify how many police officers responded, but described the deployment as substantial. Investigators said an intensive search was underway for possible suspects, although authorities had not released details of the circumstances or a potential motive.
The incident led organizers and police to end the Pride event several hours after it began. Celebrations near Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate were stopped at approximately 10:15 p.m. local time, interrupting a band’s performance. Attendees were asked to leave the area, return home and avoid travelling through Tiergarten park while emergency operations and the police investigation continued.
Hundreds of thousands of people had gathered in Berlin for the parade, commonly known in Germany as Christopher Street Day. The event is considered one of Europe’s largest celebrations for the 2SLGBTQ+ community and typically draws large crowds from Germany and abroad.
Before the vehicle entered the crowd, the parade had proceeded peacefully for several hours. Participants marched through Berlin, danced to music and cheered 80 floats travelling along the route. Images from the area later showed emergency responders working in Tiergarten and crowds near the Brandenburg Gate after the cancellation was announced.
Authorities continued searching the area and assessing the condition of those injured. Police urged the public to follow official instructions while investigators worked to determine how the incident occurred and whether other individuals were involved.