Germany launches manhunt after Berlin Pride van ramming
Deutsche Welle · LC · trust 63/100
Police believe the 21-year-old suspect, named as Abdul B., has links to the Islamist scene. One person was killed and several others injured in the attack. Follow DW for more.
https://p.dw.com/p/5HlqW The attack happened in Tiergarten, near the Brandenburg Gate, just before 10pm on Saturday night Image: Annegret Hilse/REUTERS Advertisement Skip next section What you need to know What you need to know Manhunt launched after deadly van ramming during the Pride event in central Berlin One person was killed, 16 others injured Several people are in a life-threatening condition in hospital Police name suspect as 21-year-old Abdul B. Police said the suspect is known for links to the Islamist scene The Pride parade, celebrating the LGBTQ+ community, is known as Christopher Street Day in Germany The remaining Pride events were called off Follow DW's coverage for the latest developments on the manhunt and reaction to Saturday night's attack.
07/26/2026 July 26, 2026 Vehicle attacks 'a successful strategy' for Islamist groups, warns expert Police named the suspect as 21-year-old Abdul B, who local media said was a German national of Lebanese origin Image: Annegret Hilse/REUTERS Islamist groups have stumbled upon a "successful strategy" of plowing vehicles into the public at major events across Europe, Rafael Bossong, a researcher at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), said.
"This is already a pattern — [the Berlin Pride attack was] the eighth or ninth attack of this kind in Europe," Bossong told DW.
He cited the most deadly atrocity, in July 2016, when a truck rammed into a Bastille Day celebration in Nice, France, killing 86 people and injuring hundreds more.
Bossong warned that there are over 9,000 Islamist radicals with apparent violent inclinations in Germany.
Although authorities are doing a better job of monitoring and foiling threats, he said that the Berlin attack appeared to have been carried out by "a minor figure, with a prior criminal record, but no clear affiliation [to Islamist terrorism] and no clear online warning that he was preparing to attack."
Asked how the suspect was able to drive into Berlin's Tiergarten so easily despite barriers being installed, Bossong said:
"It depends on the time and locality. In this case, Tiergarten is a large area, the ceremony was closing, so maybe the traffic restrictions had been relaxed."
07/26/2026 July 26, 2026 Road blockades failed to stop Berlin attack, says DW reporter Police searched the vehicle used in the attack for possible explosives Image: DW DW's Jules Giessler is reporting live from Berlin's Tiergarten, where police continue their investigation into Saturday night's deadly attack.
Giessler said questions are being asked about how the suspect was able to drive into the area so easily.
"The whole area is still cordoned off. Police are trying to find out how he entered the Tiergarten and managed to drive at full speed because the area was cordoned off and yesterday there were road blockades," she said.
Germany has introduced barriers and other crowd protection infrastructure at major events following similar vehicle ramming atrocities.
Giessler said residents and Pride attendees were returning to the scene on Sunday to pay their respects.
"More and more people are coming here, laying down flowers, candles and the rainbow flag — one of the symbols of the queer community."
"You can clearly see that people are shocked, sad — some crying — and asking how such a joyful event could turn into such a tragedy," Giessler added.
07/26/2026 July 26, 2026 Police briefing expected later on Sunday German police had been expected to provide updates on Sunday morning following the van ramming at the Christopher Street Day (CSD) Pride parade in Berlin. That press briefing is now expected to take place later in the day.
07/26/2026 July 26, 2026 WATCH: DW's recap of Berlin Pride attack Berlin's Pride, or Christopher Street Day (CSD) events, to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community were rocked by a deadly van ramming attack on Saturday night.
One dead, several injured in vehicle attack on Berlin Pride To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
07/26/2026 July 26, 2026 Berlin Pride atrocity an attack on 'entire country,' says lawmaker According to police, the white van plowed into revelers before hitting a tree Image: Annegret Hilse/REUTERS Germany's Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said he was "deeply shaken" by the Berlin Pride car ramming, calling it a "heinous attack on people celebrating peacefully."
"My thoughts are with the victims, their families, and everyone who had to witness this act," Dobrindt said in a statement.
"We will do everything in our power to quickly solve this terrible crime and the circumstances behind it and to punish the perpetrators."
Britta Hasselmann, the parliamentary group leader for the environmentally-friendly Green Party, labeled the ramming "an attack on the entire country, on our free and liberal constitutional state and everything that defines it."
One of the hosts of the Pride event, presenter and comedienne Ricarda Hofmann, described being "at a loss for words" following the atrocity.
"I was at CSD today," Hofmann wrote on social media, referring to Christopher Street Day, the name used in Germany to mark Pride events.
"Not just as a presenter, but as part of a community that comes together to be visible. To celebrate love. To stand up for one another."
Pride cohost Jochen Schropp, an actor and presenter, lamented how the day turned into a nightmare.
"It was such a beautiful day, full of love. (...) It was truly indescribable. And then something like this happens. I hope we somehow get through this as a community," he wrote on Instagram.
07/26/2026 July 26, 2026 More on the search for Berlin Pride attacker The suspect in the Berlin Pride ramming is known to police and was only released from…
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