One particular person died after being hit by automobile at Berlin’s LGBTQ+ parade

BERLIN —

Berlin police have recognized a suspect in Saturday’s assault throughout Berlin’s LGBTQ+ occasion and say he has ties to Islamic “circles” within the German capital.

Berlin police spokesman Florian Nath instructed reporters that measures have been underway in opposition to the suspect and that “our seek for this particular person is continuing at full pace.”

He didn’t establish the suspect by identify however stated that he was already identified to police and is from Berlin.

“Based mostly on the investigators’ preliminary findings, we’ve got already recognized a suspected perpetrator,” Nath stated. “He’s identified to us as a member of Islamic circles right here in Berlin.”

A van slammed into individuals gathered for Berlin’s famed LGBTQ+ occasion on Saturday night time, killing one particular person, injuring no less than 16 others and prompting police to name off the celebrations and a live performance within the German capital hours after that they had begun.

Police stated among the victims had life-threatening accidents. In a put up on X, police referred to as on everybody to go away the location of the occasion instantly as ambulances and firefighters attended to the victims.

“We’re conducting an intensive seek for attainable suspects,” police officer Florian Nath stated on a brief video launched on the Berlin police account on X.

Police spokesperson Alexander Klute instructed The Related Press later that “at this level, we don’t know something about attainable motives, the identification of the perpetrator or the perpetrators, or something of that nature.”

White van hit individuals in Tiergarten park

In accordance with police, a white van had pushed into the Tiergarten park round 10 p.m., which is subsequent to the route that the satisfaction march had handed alongside earlier, and hit a number of individuals earlier than colliding with a tree. Police couldn’t say what number of officers had been deployed to the scene however that it was “positively lots of police.”

Total, greater than 2,200 law enforcement officials have been on obligation in Berlin since Saturday morning to guard the satisfaction parade and different LGBTQ+ occasions within the metropolis.

Mayor Kai Wegner speaks to the media in Berlin, early Sunday, July 26, 2026, following the cancellation of Christopher Road Day festivities.

Police have been conducting witness interrogations on the park in the course of the night time and have been investigating accounts that along with the crash some victims appeared to have suffered stab wounds — however that it was too early to attract any conclusion from these accounts.

Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner expressed shock, saying that “following a peaceable and vibrant satisfaction parade, the rally for a tolerant and peaceable Berlin was attacked in essentially the most brutal method.”

“That is an assault on our free and cosmopolitan society,” Wegner stated. “I’ve confidence within the police and safety authorities, who will probably be working across the clock to research.”

In the meantime, authorities referred to as on attainable witnesses to return ahead and share with police any video or photographs they could have taken on the scene of the assault.

The town additionally activated a disaster hotline for individuals lacking associates or relations.

Lots of of 1000’s of individuals had come to Berlin on Saturday to have fun at Berlin’s satisfaction parade, identified in Germany as Christopher Road Day. It’s one in every of Europe’s largest LGBTQ+ celebrations.

Iconic satisfaction occasion referred to as off

The satisfaction occasion in entrance of town’s Brandenburg Gate, close to Tiergarten, was referred to as off round 10:15 p.m. and a band’s efficiency on stage was interrupted. Folks have been urged to go house and to keep away from taking the route by means of the park.

Earlier than the incident, individuals had celebrated peacefully, marching by means of town for hours, dancing to loud music, and cheering the round 80 floats that participated within the parade.

Julian Miethig, who had attended the LGBTQ+ social gathering on the Brandenburg Gate earlier, stated he had simply wished to go to an afterparty when he heard from a good friend that “one thing dangerous occurred there and there are lots of hearth vehicles, lots of emergency autos, ambulances.”

He stated he went to Tiergarten and was shocked that one thing like this might have occurred at Berlin’s satisfaction celebrations.

“It’s a darkish day for the group,” he stated.