Van drives into crowd at Berlin Pride, killing one and injuring 16

Jul 25, 2026

A van drove into a crowd at Berlin's Christopher Street Day Pride event on July 25, 2026, killing one person and injuring 16, some with life-threatening injuries. The attack in Tiergarten park prompted authorities to cancel the celebration, one of Europe's largest, and launch a manhunt for the suspect(s), who fled the scene. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz vowed to punish those responsible for what Berlin's mayor called an "attack on our free and cosmopolitan society."

Tiergarten vehicle attack

▪After hitting several people, the van collided with a tree and was later found abandoned by police in the park.
▪Police are conducting an intensive manhunt for the suspect or suspects, whose motives and identities are currently unknown.
▪The incident occurred around 10 p.m. in Tiergarten park, on a walking path near the route of the Pride march.
▪Several of the victims sustained life-threatening injuries.
▪On July 25, 2026, a white van drove into a crowd at Berlin's Pride event, killing one person and injuring 16 others.

Berlin Pride event cancellation

▪Police and organizers used social media to urge the hundreds of thousands of attendees to leave the area immediately.
▪Following the attack, the Berlin Pride event, known as Christopher Street Day, was officially cancelled.
▪Before the incident, the parade had been peaceful, with approximately 80 floats participating.
▪The event was called off around 10:15 p.m., interrupting a band's performance at the Brandenburg Gate.

Official response

▪A large number of police officers and emergency services personnel were deployed to the scene in Tiergarten.
▪The 2026 Berlin Pride parade's motto was "Taking a stand is hot," a response to rising hostility toward queer people in Germany.
▪The city of Berlin activated a crisis hotline for people who were unable to contact friends or family members.
▪Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner described the incident as an "attack on our free and cosmopolitan society."

Rising anti-LGBTQ hostility

▪The attack occurred as Germany remains on edge following a series of deadly vehicle and knife attacks in recent years.
▪Campaigners have linked increased hostility towards LGBTQ+ people to a surge in support for the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party.