Ouagadougou: A vehicle plowed into a crowd at the end of Berlin’s Pride march on Saturday, July 25, around 10 p.m., resulting in one death and 17 injuries, including three individuals in critical condition. German authorities have announced that the suspect is being sought, and the event’s conclusion, which was set to feature concerts and stalls, was subsequently canceled by the organizers.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the tragic incident occurred in Tiergarten Park, a wooded area where the parade concluded, situated several hundred meters from the main festivities near the Brandenburg Gate. Dominik Pretz, spokesman for the Berlin fire brigade, confirmed that one of the injured individuals succumbed to their injuries at the scene, while three remain in critical condition.
German police have issued a wanted notice for a 21-year-old man named Abdul B., described as being 1.90 meters tall and linked to “Islamist circles.” Police spokesman Florian Nath revealed that the suspect had previously attempted to join the Islamic State in Syria in 2025 but was arrested in Lebanon and subsequently returned to Germany. He was reportedly convicted earlier this year for preparing a serious act of violence against state security.
Investigators are currently searching for possible accomplices who abandoned the vehicle at the scene, identified as a minivan or small SUV severely damaged by the impact. Several witnesses also reported being stabbed during the incident, adding to the chaos and fear experienced by parade participants.
The event was heavily secured, with more than 2,200 police officers mobilized for Christopher Street Day, one of Europe’s largest LGBT community parades that attracts hundreds of thousands of attendees annually in Berlin. Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner, who participated in the march earlier, condemned the attack as an assault on free and open German society, emphasizing the brutality of targeting a peaceful gathering.
The planned festivities, including concerts and stalls, have been officially canceled by the organizers in light of the tragic events.