Berlin: 1 dead, 15 injured after vehicle drives into CSD Pride event
Police said around 15 people were injured, some seriously, after a white van struck several people in central Berlin during Pride celebrations, known locally as
Police said around 15 people were injured, some seriously, after a white van struck several people in central Berlin during Pride celebrations, known locally as Christopher Street Day (CSD). A manhunt is underway. At least one person has died and 15 people were injured, "some seriously", police said, after a vehicle was suspected of striking a crowd near Berlin's annual Pride event, Christopher Street Day (CSD), on Saturday night. "We believe that a vehicle entered the Tiergarten park and hit several people," police said on social media. What do we know about the incident at the Berlin CSD event? Police have not commented on whether the incident was intentional or if the CSD was the target. Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner, however, who visited the scene, described it as "an attack on our free and open society." "After a peaceful and colorful CSD, the assembly for a tolerant and peaceful Berlin was attacked in the most brutal way.
Berlin is the city of freedom, and our freedom has been attacked in the most horrific way today," Wegner said on X. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also condemned what he called a "horrific act." In a statement, Merz said he and Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt would ensure "this horrific act is fully investigated and punished." Wegner said he was confident police would 'investigate at full speed' Image: Fabian Sommer/dpa/picture alliance Police launch manhunt Berlin police said multiple officers and fire department rescue crews had been deployed to the Tiergarten area in the center of the German capital. A white vehicle with heavy damage was found abandoned at the scene. Police said they had launched a manhunt to find the driver.
"We are conducting an intensive search for possible suspects," a spokesperson said. They added there was "definitely a lot of police" deployed to the scene. Pride parade participants told to 'go home, please' Hundreds of thousands of people had taken to the streets of Berlin on Saturday to advocate for tolerance and diversity, culminating in concerts at the Brandenburg Gate. The event was called off around 10:15 p.m., and a band's performance was interrupted. Authorities urged people to "go home, please," and avoid routes through Tiergarten. Police told those attending a concert as part of the CSD event to leave the premises of the event immediately Image: Fabian Sommer/dpa/picture alliance The CSD parade ended on 17 June Street, which crosses Berlin's Tiergarten to the Brandenburg Gate.
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