A speeding car was driven into a crowd during a Pride festival in the German capital, Berlin. The LGBTQ+ community celebrates this event annually as “Christopher Street Day”; it is one of Europe’s largest festivals. At least one person was killed and 17 others injured in the attack. Some of the injured are in serious condition.
The incident occurred on Saturday night in Tiergarten Park, near the Brandenburg Gate. Immediately following the event, police launched a major operation to apprehend the suspected attacker. News agency Reuters reported the story.
How the attack unfolded: According to police and eyewitnesses, a white van or minibus entered the park at high speed around 10 PM local time and drove into the crowd. After traveling a short distance, the vehicle crashed into a tree and came to a halt. The driver immediately abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot. Police stated that the vehicle was seized empty and a search for the perpetrator is underway. A Berlin police spokesperson told reporters that they had identified a suspect known to the police for his links to an “Islamist group” in Berlin; however, he has not yet been arrested.
Parade halted: A fire department spokesperson reported that eight of the injured sustained serious injuries, with three in critical condition. Just as thousands of people were immersed in the festivities, this bloody incident led to the suspension of the entire festival and an order to clear the venue. Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner described the incident as a “barbaric attack” on an open and tolerant society. German Chancellor and top political leaders have strongly condemned the incident and pledged to bring the perpetrators to justice swiftly. This latest attack has heightened security concerns in the country, following a series of recent incidents involving vehicles and knives used to attack civilians in Germany.
