Several people injured at Berlin Pride parade after vehicle drives into crowd
Multiple people have been injured after a vehicle drove into crowds at a LGBTQ+ pride parade in Berlin.
Police have said some of the victims have ‘life-threatening injuries’.
Police, who have not say how many people have been injured, called on everyone in a post on X to leave the premises of the event immediately.
A short while later, police said a vehicle had driven into the Tiergarten park, near the route of the pride march, hitting several people.
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Police did not know how many officers had been deployed to the scene but that it was ‘definitely a lot of police’.
A manhunt is now underway with helicopters deployed to help with the search.
“We are conducting an intensive search for possible suspects,” a police officer said on a short video released on the Berlin police account on X.
"We are currently deployed with numerous police forces as well as rescue units from the Berlin Fire Department in the Großer Tiergarten.
It is not clear if police are looking for one or several suspects.
"It is suspected that a vehicle has driven into the Tiergarten here, has struck and injured several people. The injured are currently being treated by rescue personnel."
While the exact number of injured people wasn’t immediately clear, police said that several people were severely injured, and that some of them suffered life-threatening injuries.
Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner has said the incident is an ‘attack on our free and open society’.
He wrote: “After a peaceful and colorful CSD, the assembly for a tolerant and peaceful Berlin was attacked in the most brutal way.
“Berlin is the city of freedom – and our freedom has been attacked in the most horrific way today.
“My thoughts are with the victims, their families and friends. I thank the emergency services who were immediately on site and did everything in their power.
“And I trust the police and security authorities, who will investigate at full speed.”
Hundreds of thousands of people had headed out to join the celebrations in Berlin on Saturday to celebrate the pride parade, known in Germany as Christopher Street Day.
It’s one of the biggest LGBTQ+ celebrations in Europe.
The event in front of the iconic Brandenburg Gate in Berlin’s downtown was called off around 10.15pm and live music performance on stage was interrupted.
A member of the Christopher Street Day board took to the stage and told the audience: “Unfortunately, we have to end the event prematurely due to a difficult situation.”
A screen at Brandenburg Gate read: “Evacuation.”
Those at the event were then urged to go home and to avoid taking the route through the Tiergarten park.
A social media post from the event's organisers read: "Please leave the premises calmly and in an orderly manner. Please avoid the Victory Column and the Tiergarten. Leave the premises in the direction of the main train station."
Before the incident, people had celebrated peacefully, marching through the city for hours, dancing to loud music and cheering the around 80 floats that participated in the parade.
Topics: World News
Claire Reid