Berlin, July 25 – Tragedy struck the Christopher Street Day (CSD) celebration in Berlin on Friday evening when a vehicle ploughed into a crowd near Tiergarten, leaving one person dead and 14 injured. The popular LGBTQ+ event was immediately cancelled following the incident.
Vehicle Crashes into CSD Crowd
The incident occurred around 10:00 PM local time near Lennéstraße in the Tiergarten area. According to initial reports from BILD, a white van drove at high speed into a group of people attending the CSD festivities. The exact number of those affected and the precise cause of the incident are still under investigation. Police have cordoned off the area extensively.
An eyewitness described seeing a white van speeding into the crowd. Emergency services declared a “mass casualty incident,” deploying 44 responders, including paramedics and emergency doctors, to the scene. The incident took place at the entrance to a tunnel.
Police Search for Suspects, Event Cancelled
Authorities have launched a search for potential suspects. Eyewitnesses reported that a man exited the vehicle and fled on foot after the crash.
Minutes after the incident, CSD organizers officially announced the cancellation of the event. A message on a large screen at the Brandenburg Gate displayed “Evacuation” in signal colors. Attendees were instructed via Instagram to “calmly and orderly” leave the premises, advising them to avoid the Siegessäule and Tiergarten and to head towards the main train station.
Investigation Underway
The Berlin police are conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash. While details remain scarce, the focus is on identifying the driver and understanding the motive behind this devastating event. The community is in shock, and thoughts are with the victims and their families.
Further updates are expected as the investigation progresses.
