Manhunt launched following deadly attack at Berlin Pride festival
A manhunt is underway for a 21-year-old suspect after a vehicle was driven into a crowd at Berlin’s Pride festival on Saturday night, killing a woman and injuring 16 others, reports BritPanorama.
Several people are also reported to have been stabbed during the attack, authorities said, which happened in Tiergarten park around 10 p.m. local time, near the Brandenburg Gate landmark in the German capital.
Three of the injured individuals have life-threatening injuries, Berlin’s fire department spokesperson Dominik Pretz said Sunday morning, adding that eight are seriously injured and five have minor injuries.
Police released a photo of a suspect, identified as 21-year-old Abdul B., who they say is known to be a member of “Islamist circles” in Berlin.
“Our search for this person is proceeding at full speed,” police spokesperson Florian Nath said Sunday, adding that investigators have no information on “specific motives.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned the incident in Berlin as “a heinous act,” stating that the assault is an affront to the values of kindness and tolerance in society. He affirmed the investigation would be conducted with the “utmost severity.”
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt expressed his shock over “this cowardly, abhorrent attack on people celebrating peacefully.”
Alfonso Pantisano, the Berlin state government’s Queer Liaison Officer, reflected on the day, noting that it “should have been a day of joy, visibility and freedom.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen shared her sympathies for the victims on Sunday, emphasizing that the Pride event stands for “freedom, dignity, and equality.” She stated, “Every person should be able to live, love, and stand up for their rights without fear.”
Abdul B. is believed to have injured several individuals with a vehicle, authorities noted, and one or more suspects subsequently exited the vehicle. A white vehicle suspected of being involved in the attack has been seen in a police cordon, appearing to have crashed into a tree.
The suspect is described as having a slim build and being approximately 1.9 meters tall, with black hair, a black hoodie and white pants.
A warning issued on Sunday advised the public to avoid “direct contact” with the suspect, as he may be armed and dangerous.
Hundreds of thousands of attendees flocked to Berlin for one of Europe’s largest LGBTQ+ celebrations on Saturday. The parade had passed through Tiergarten earlier that day, however, Pride events were called off around 10:15 p.m., shortly after the attack, with all further celebrations cancelled in the aftermath.
