Berlin's annual Pride celebrations were abruptly brought to an end on Saturday evening after a vehicle drove into a crowd near the city's Tiergarten park, killing at least one person and injuring several others. German police have launched a major manhunt for the driver, who reportedly fled the scene on foot.
The incident occurred during Christopher Street Day (CSD), Germany's largest LGBTQ+ event and one of Europe's biggest Pride celebrations. Hundreds of thousands of people had gathered in central Berlin for the parade and associated concerts around the Brandenburg Gate when emergency services were called to reports that a vehicle had struck pedestrians near the parade route.
Berlin police said at least 15 people were injured, some seriously. One person later died from their injuries. Witnesses quoted by local media said a white van appeared to drive into the crowd at speed before the driver abandoned the vehicle and escaped. Authorities have not yet confirmed the circumstances of the collision or whether it was deliberate.
Emergency crews, firefighters and police officers flooded the area as organisers cancelled the remainder of the event. Attendees were instructed to leave the Brandenburg Gate concert site and avoid the Tiergarten area while investigations continued.
In a statement issued on social media, Berlin police said they were conducting an intensive search for suspects and urged members of the public to stay away from the scene. Authorities have so far released few details about the driver or any possible motive.
The tragedy cast a shadow over what had been a peaceful day of celebrations. Christopher Street Day is held annually in Berlin to promote LGBTQ+ rights, equality and inclusion, drawing participants from across Germany and beyond. The event had featured a large parade through the city centre, accompanied by music, performances and political demonstrations.
Investigators are expected to work through the night to establish exactly what happened. As of Saturday evening, police had not indicated whether the incident was being treated as an accident, a criminal act or a potential terror attack.
This is a developing story and details may change as authorities provide further information.
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