On Saturday evening local time (July 25), a serious car crash occurred in the center of Berlin, the capital of Germany. A car drove into a crowd during the annual “Christopher Street Day” event, resulting in at least one death and 16 injuries. The police have identified a 21-year-old suspect and are currently conducting a search.
Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Berlin on that day to participate in the European “Christopher Street Day” event. The incident took place near Tiergarten Park in central Berlin, close to the famous landmark Brandenburg Gate.
The event aims to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Inn riots in New York, where a police raid on a gay bar led to protests by LGBTQ+ individuals against discrimination. Today, this event has become the largest LGBTQ+ celebration in Europe.
According to the police and eyewitnesses, around 10 pm on Saturday night, a white vehicle (believed to be a van) sped into Tiergarten Park near the Brandenburg Gate. The vehicle hit several pedestrians before coming to a stop after hitting a tree, and the driver abandoned the vehicle at the scene.
Following the incident, the organizers urged people to return home and avoid the area near the park. A large number of police and fire rescue teams were deployed to the scene, providing medical assistance to the injured. Local authorities in Berlin reported that among the 16 injured, three are in critical condition, eight are severely injured, and five have minor injuries.
Julian Miethig, who attended the event, told Reuters that it was one of the darkest days for the community and expressed hope to never experience such a situation again. He described seeing many fire trucks, emergency vehicles, and ambulances rushing to the scene.
The police and prosecutors have identified a 21-year-old male suspect named Abdul B. and have requested public assistance in locating him. The authorities are also appealing for any footage from the scene to aid in the investigation.
Police spokesperson Florian Nath stated, “We have identified a suspect, confirming that he is a local resident of Berlin and has ties to Islamist organizations.”
Law enforcement has initiated a search throughout the city, conducting a search of an apartment in Berlin’s Schöneberg district early on Sunday morning (July 26) but did not find the suspect.
In a recent announcement, the police warned the public to avoid direct contact with the suspect as he may be armed and dangerous.
Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner described the incident as an attack on a free and open society, expressing confidence in the investigation by the police and security agencies. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized in a statement that the government will thoroughly investigate the matter and ensure that the perpetrator faces appropriate punishment.