Berlin, July 26th, 2026, 6:24 a.m. (the Berlin Spectator) – A celebration that drew hundreds of thousands of people to the streets of Berlin ended in violence on Saturday night, when a vehicle was driven into the crowd near the close of Christopher Street Day (CSD) festivities. At least one person was killed and at least 16 others were injured, several critically, the police said.
According to police, a car was driven along the Ahornsteig, running parallel to Lennéstraße near Potsdamer Platz and the Tiergarten park, shortly before 10:00 p.m.. The vehicle, a white van, struck several pedestrians before colliding with a tree. The driver then abandoned the car and fled on foot.
A manhunt is underway. The police are looking for an identified person they believe is responsible. A spokesperson stated, this individual was part of Islamist circles in the German capital. According to a report by the “Bild” daily, suspect is the 21-year-old Abdul B.
Number of Culprits Unclear
Investigators are also examining reports that a knife or similar weapon was used against victims after the vehicle came to a stop. For the police, officer Florian Nath said witnesses had described people lying on the ground with stab wounds, though this had not yet been confirmed as part of the official account. Witness statements reportedly differed on whether one attacker or several were involved.
Early this morning, the Berlin Police Department and the Attorney General asked the public for assistance in finding Abdul B. They released a photo. According to the authorities, he is 6’3″ (1.90 m) tall and has black hair. “Who witnessed anything that might be connected to the attack? Who can provide information on his possible current whereabouts?”, the police are asking.
“If you spot this man, do not approach him under any circumstances and avoid direct contact”, a police statement said. “He may be armed and dangerous. Call police emergency services immediately at 110.” Information about his location can also be submitted by calling the phone number 030-54024111, or by contacting any police station.
Berlin’s fire department said three of the injured were in life-threatening condition, eight suffered serious injuries and five were hurt lightly. All of the critically and seriously injured were taken to hospitals. Fire department spokesperson Dominik Pretz said roughly 30 additional people, shaken by the event, were being cared for by emergency responders, with psychological support available on site. Around 150 fire department personnel were deployed. Police set up a hotline for relatives of victims: 030-485 4460.
Suspect Identified, Search Underway
Officers, including special forces units, searched an apartment in the Schöneberg district overnight but made no arrest, as no one was found inside. According to the “Welt” daily, a loud, explosion-like bang was heard from the building around 1:10 a.m. before officers entered. The police withdrew from the scene roughly 15 minutes later.
Berlin’s governing mayor, Kai Wegner (CDU), condemned the incident as “an attack on our free and open-minded society” and said freedom in the city had been struck in the most brutal way. Asked whether he considered it a terrorist attack, Wegner said it was too early to say.
Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) offered Berlin’s state authorities the support of the federal government overnight, according to a spokesperson for the federal government. Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) was informed immediately after the attack and has remained in close contact with Dobrindt and security agencies. A government spokesperson said the chancellor and interior minister’s thoughts were with the victims and their families, and that they intended to press for a full investigation and prosecution of what they called a heinous act.
Berlin’s State Secretary for urban development, Christian Gaebler (SPD), who is standing in for Interior Senator Iris Spranger during her vacation, cautioned against speculation about a possible political or criminal motive, noting that the incident took place in the Tiergarten rather than at the festival grounds itself, which he said complicated the picture.
The Evening’s Events
Hundreds of thousands had gathered earlier for CSD, Berlin’s annual pride demonstration for democracy, tolerance and diversity. Singer Sarah Connor performed for roughly half an hour at the closing rally near the Brandenburg Gate, appearing with a rainbow flag around her shoulders.
Shortly after her set, organizers abruptly halted the program, and screens at the Brandenburg Gate flashed the word “Evacuation.” Attendees were told to leave calmly via nearby subway entrances rather than heading toward the Victory Column. Organizers reinforced the message on social media, urging people to go home because the event had been called off.
As of early Sunday, police said they still had no confirmed information on a motive or on the identity of the driver beyond the suspect described as linked to Berlin’s Islamist scene. It also remained unconfirmed whether a knife attack took place as a distinct second phase of the assault, and whether the driver acted alone or with accomplices.
Until the attack took place, the CSD had been mostly peaceful. But haters took part as well. They spread conspiracy myths about Israel and supported the extremist Palestinian leadership which consists of the terror organisation Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. The latter pays terrorists who murder Israelis.
