One dead and 16 injured after vehicle drives into crowd at Berlin CSD

Berlin – 26 July 2026: A woman has died after a white van drove into a group of people on the outskirts of Christopher Street Day in Berlin. According to police and fire brigade officials, at least 16 other people were injured. The incident occurred late on Saturday evening, 25 July, in the Tiergarten, not far from the parade route and the closing celebration at the Brandenburg Gate.

According to the current state of the investigation, the vehicle entered the park at around 10 p.m. and struck several people. The van then crashed into a tree. Emergency services treated the injured at the scene. Three people were reportedly critically injured, eight seriously injured and five slightly injured. Police cordoned off the area extensively; the nearby CSD closing programme was ended.

Investigators have launched a public search for a 21-year-old suspect. Police and prosecutors accuse him of injuring people with the vehicle. According to the authorities, one or more people may have left the van after the collision. Police warn against approaching the wanted man, as he may be armed and dangerous.

A police spokesperson said the suspect was known to authorities and was believed to belong to the Islamist milieu in the capital. Investigators explicitly did not name a specific motive. The exact sequence of events and the possible role of further individuals are still being investigated. Reports suggesting that some of those affected may also have suffered stab wounds are also being examined.

Christopher Street Day had earlier drawn large crowds through central Berlin. According to observers, around 80 vehicles took part in the parade. Following the incident, the celebration at the Brandenburg Gate was called off and a stage event was interrupted. Visitors were asked to leave the area in an orderly manner and avoid the Tiergarten so that the fire brigade and police could work without obstruction.

Berlin’s Governing Mayor Kai Wegner described the events as an attack on the free and cosmopolitan city. Chancellor Friedrich Merz also strongly condemned the act. The city set up a contact point for people who are missing friends or relatives.

Police are asking witnesses to submit photographs, videos and observations from the Tiergarten to investigators. The identity of the woman who was killed was initially not released. As of Sunday morning, 26 July, no arrest had been reported.