The celebrations of Christopher Street Day (CSD), the traditional Berlin Pride and one of the most massive LGTBIQ+ events in Europe, ended in tragedy this Saturday after a multiple car accident that left at least one person dead and 16 injured, several of them seriously.
The attack occurred around 10:00 p.m. in Tiergarten park, very close to the Brandenburg Gate, where the closing ceremony of Pride was taking place. According to the Berlin Police, a white vehicle broke into the pedestrian zone, hit several people and ended up hitting a tree. The driver abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene.
The authorities deployed an extensive police operation with helicopters and specialized teams to locate the person responsible. The Police confirmed that there is an identified suspect and that the investigation remains open to clarify his participation, determine the motive for the events and establish whether he acted alone or with the collaboration of other people. At the moment no confirmed motivation has been officially reported.
German police are searching for a man wanted in connection with a van ramming at Berlin Pride, which left one person is dead and multiple injured.
Photo credit: Berlin Police#berlinpride #skynews pic.twitter.com/yzdalUXuJx
— Sky News (@SkyNews) July 26, 2026
As a result of the attack, organizers suspended the final events of Christopher Street Day and asked the thousands of people attending to leave the area in an orderly manner. Berlin had brought together hundreds of thousands of participants throughout the day in one of the most important Pride marches in Europe, with more than 80 floats and an extensive program of cultural and protest activities.
The German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, and the Mayor of Berlin, Kai Wegner, condemned what happened and expressed their solidarity with the victims and their families. Both agreed to describe the attack as an attack on the values of freedom, coexistence and diversity that Berlin Pride represents.
While the investigations continue, the international LGTBIQ+ community is closely following the evolution of the case. Christopher Street Day in Berlin is considered one of the main symbols of the defense of rights and diversity in Europe, which is why the attack has generated a deep shock both in Germany and in the rest of the world.
