Berlin police reported that one person was killed and 26 others were injured following a ramming incident during the Christopher Street Day parade—one of Germany’s largest annual events celebrating the LGBTQ+ community, which attracts hundreds of thousands of participants from within Germany and abroad.
The incident occurred at approximately 10:00 PM on Saturday, July 25, when a white truck plowed into the crowd of parade-goers, leaving one dead and dozens seriously injured.
The event sparked widespread attention both inside and outside Germany. Police immediately initiated evacuation operations following the incident. Initial investigations indicated that bladed weapons were also used in the attack, prompting authorities to launch a large-scale security operation to apprehend the suspect.
Late Sunday evening, Berlin police stated that the suspect—a 21-year-old German-Lebanese man—was killed during the arrest attempt. Police officers shot him after he charged at them carrying a knife, according to an official statement reported by Deutsche Welle Channel. As a result, police have been unable to conclusively determine the suspect’s motive. However, authorities noted that the suspect had a prior criminal record, was known to hold ties to radical “Islamist” circles, and had previously attempted to join ISIS.
Reactions poured in from the Arab and Syrian queer community both inside and outside Germany, with many LGBTQ+ individuals expressing solidarity with the victims, condemning the violence, and calling for increased protection for Pride event participants.
