FAQ: What is known about the attack on the Berlin Pride parade

Berlin: What Is Known About the Attack on the CSD

One dead, several injured: Grief and horror prevail following the suspected attack on the CSD in Berlin. Police are searching for a suspect linked to the Islamist scene. Many questions remain unanswered.

What happened?

On Saturday at around 10 p.m., near Potsdamer Platz, a vehicle drove into a crowd of people in the Tiergarten. At least one woman was killed, and several others were injured, some seriously. The background to the incident remains unclear; police found the vehicle abandoned and are searching for possible suspects.

According to police, a vehicle had driven into the Tiergarten and through the Ahornsteig. Along this route through the park, the driver is alleged to have struck or run over people. The vehicle, a white van, later collided with a tree. According to police, the driver fled in an unknown direction.

Police are investigating whether a bladed weapon was also used. "It is part of the investigation whether there was a second phase of the attack following the driving phase," a police spokesperson said.

According to the fire brigade, three people are in life-threatening condition and eight are seriously injured. An additional five people sustained minor injuries. The fire brigade also reported that 30 people were receiving psychological support, as they were in a state of shock from the events.

Berlin police have set up a tip portal and a personal information hotline for people who are missing someone. The phone number is: 030 8485 4460.

What is known about the suspect?

Investigators are publicly searching for 21-year-old Abdul B. He has not yet been apprehended. "However, this suspect is known to police as a member of the Islamist milieu here in Berlin," police stated.

Berlin police warned in a statement published on the social media platform X not to approach the suspected Islamist, as he was "possibly armed and dangerous." The man has a slim build, is approximately 1.90 meters tall, and has black hair.

Police have released this undated photo of Abdul B.

According to information from NDR, WDR, and Süddeutsche Zeitung, Abdul B. had been classified as an Islamist "dangerous individual." Security authorities had assessed him as radicalized and prone to violence.

He is alleged to have attempted to travel to Syria to join the Islamic State. He was reportedly arrested at Berlin's BER airport at the end of 2025 upon returning from Lebanon. According to investigative sources, he is said to have been held in pre-trial detention until May 2026 on suspicion of preparing a terrorist offense.

In May 2026, according to information from NDR, WDR, and Süddeutsche Zeitung, he was sentenced under juvenile criminal law for preparing a terrorist offense. The verdict is not yet final — according to Bild newspaper, because the prosecution is said to have filed an appeal against the ruling.

B. was required to participate in a deradicalization program. According to investigative sources, B. was subsequently placed under partial surveillance. His phone was also monitored. After he posted a photo of a weapon on social media, a search was carried out at his home, though the weapon turned out to be a toy gun.

What remains unclear?

So far, investigators have not yet established a motive for the suspected perpetrator — it is also not certain whether Abdul B., for whom a public manhunt has been launched, is actually the perpetrator or was involved in the act. His whereabouts are likewise unknown.

Due to the suspicion of an attack, the Berlin General Prosecutor's Office and the Berlin State Criminal Investigation Office are currently leading the ongoing investigation. In addition, the Federal Public Prosecutor General — Germany's highest prosecutorial authority — could also become involved.

It can, among other things, take over cases of Islamist-motivated terrorism. It can also assume responsibility for cases of particular significance. However, the Federal Public Prosecutor General has not yet taken over the investigation in this case.

Shock and Horror — Reactions to the Attack

Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned the act on Saturday evening. "This is an attack on our society," Merz stated online on Sunday morning. "Hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world were peacefully celebrating at Christopher Street Day. They wanted us to treat one another well and with tolerance," the Chancellor continued. The "heinous act" would be investigated and prosecuted with the full force of the law, Merz announced.

Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt had previously also commented. "This cowardly, abhorrent attack on people peacefully celebrating shakes me to my core. My thoughts are with the victims, their families, and all those who had to witness this act," Dobrindt said according to a statement from the ministry. "We will do everything in our power to swiftly clarify the circumstances of this terrible act and bring those responsible to justice."

Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) stated: "This is an attack on our free and open society. After a peaceful and vibrant CSD, the gathering for a tolerant and peaceful Berlin was attacked in the most brutal manner. Berlin is the city of freedom — and our freedom has today been attacked in the most terrible way."

Rapper Ikkimel called for solidarity. "Love is NEVER the mistake, FEAR AND HATE never an answer," the 29-year-old wrote on Instagram. She hoped that many people would now realize how important it is to stand together — "now more than ever." The artist had made a brief appearance on the CSD stage at the Brandenburg Gate on Saturday.