A search is intensifying for a 21-year-old suspect after a tragic incident at Berlin’s Pride festival on Saturday night. A vehicle was driven into a crowd, resulting in the death of a woman and injuries to 16 others. The attack took place around 10 p.m. local time in Tiergarten park, near the Brandenburg Gate.
Authorities reported that several people were also stabbed during the attack. Of the injured, three individuals are in critical condition, eight are seriously injured, and five have minor injuries, according to Dominik Pretz, spokesperson for Berlin’s fire department.
Police have released an image of a suspect identified as 21-year-old Abdul B. He is believed to be associated with Islamist circles in Berlin. Police and prosecutors are seeking public assistance in locating him. “Our search for this person is proceeding at full speed,” said police spokesperson Florian Nath, who noted that the motives remain unclear.
Reaction to the incident has been strong. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned the act, describing it as “heinous” and an assault on societal values. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt expressed outrage at the “cowardly, abhorrent attack on people celebrating peacefully.”
Alfonso Pantisano, the Berlin state government’s Queer Liaison Officer, remarked that Saturday should have been a celebration of joy and freedom. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also offered her condolences, emphasizing that Pride events represent “freedom, dignity, and equality.”
Initial reports indicate that Abdul B. injured several people with a vehicle before crashing into a tree. The car, a white vehicle, was found inside a police cordon. The public is advised to avoid “direct contact” with the suspect as he might be armed and dangerous.
The Berlin Pride festival attracted hundreds of thousands to one of Europe’s largest LGBTQ+ celebrations. The parade had earlier passed through the park, but all events were canceled following the attack.