Bangkok: A van rammed into a crowd in a park in Berlin, Germany, during Berlin Pride celebrations on Saturday night, resulting in one fatality and injuring 16 others. The incident took place at approximately 10:00 PM local time in Tiergarten park, near the Brandenburg Gate, the parade's final destination. The van, described as white, sped through the park, striking a group of people as they exited the parade venue. It subsequently crashed into a tree, and the driver, identified by witnesses as a man, fled the scene. Among the injured, three individuals sustained serious injuries.
According to Thai News Agency, over 2,200 police and rescue personnel, including reinforcements from neighboring states, were deployed to manage the situation and secure the area for investigation. Authorities are currently questioning witnesses, as some victims reportedly suffered stabbing injuries, warranting a comprehensive examination of the evidence. Event organizers promptly canceled all concerts and activities scheduled for that evening and urged the attendees, numbering in the hundreds of thousands, to leave the area peacefully, advising them to avoid routes passing through Tiergarten Park.
A spokesperson for the Berlin police revealed that officers have identified a suspect believed to be the driver of the van, though he remains at large. The suspect is known to the police and is listed in their database as a member of an Islamic extremist network based in Berlin.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned the incident as a horrific act and, along with the Interior Minister, pledged a thorough investigation to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice. The Mayor of Berlin characterized the incident as an attack on Germany's free and open society, following a day of peaceful demonstrations advocating for democracy and diversity.