Car Drives Into Crowd at CSD Berlin; Event Abandoned as Police Search for Suspects
Car drives into crowd at CSD Berlin; police report multiple injured and search for suspects. Area evacuated; organizers urge participants to go home promptly.
The Christopher Street Day (CSD) parade in central Berlin was halted after a vehicle drove into a crowd near the Tiergarten, police said, with emergency services treating multiple injured people at the scene. The disturbance prompted authorities to call for the area to be avoided and for attendees to leave the grounds immediately. Organizers used social media to urge participants to return home as the police launched a search for those responsible.
Police describe a developing situation with multiple casualties
Berlin police confirmed that officers responded to reports of a vehicle entering a crowd at approximately 10 p.m. local time and that several people suffered injuries requiring on-site treatment and hospital transport. Emergency medical teams and firefighters were reported to be treating victims at the scene while uniformed officers secured the immediate perimeter. Officials said information about the number and severity of casualties remained preliminary and subject to confirmation.
Investigation and manhunt under way in Tiergarten area
Authorities said they were actively searching for suspected perpetrators and had not ruled out the possibility of more than one person being involved. Police invoked an expansive cordon and warned the public to avoid the Tiergarten vicinity while searches continued. Investigators also appealed to witnesses and anyone with mobile video or images to come forward to assist with identifying suspects and reconstructing the incident.
Organizers asked crowds to disperse and leave the event site
CSD organizers posted on Instagram advising attendees to leave the parade area and return home for their safety, while stewards and marshals assisted with evacuation where possible. Those at the event were told to follow police instructions and to avoid congregating near cordons or emergency access routes. Social media feeds showed participants describing confusion and a rapid, ordered attempt by officials to clear the scene.
Transport and central Berlin disruptions reported by authorities
Police warned drivers and commuters to steer clear of affected streets and to expect road closures in central Berlin as a result of police operations and rescue activity. Local transportation services experienced delays and some routes were temporarily suspended to allow emergency vehicles unimpeded access to the site. Officials urged people to consult transport providers for updates and to plan alternative routes while the area remained restricted.
Motive and circumstances of the incident remain unclear
Authorities emphasized that it was too early to determine whether the act was deliberate or accidental, and whether it represented an isolated attack or part of a broader threat. Detectives from specialized units were reported to be on scene, collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses to establish a timeline. Police cautioned against speculation and said they would release verified information as investigations progressed.
Witnesses and medical teams describe tense evacuation and treatment efforts
Bystanders at the scene described moments of alarm as emergency personnel worked to clear casualties and create safe routes for evacuation, while medical teams prioritized stabilizing injured people for hospital transfer. Fire brigade and ambulance crews coordinated under police direction to set up triage points near the Tiergarten perimeter. Hospitals in the area were notified and prepared to receive multiple casualties pending further confirmation of numbers.
In the hours after the vehicle struck the crowd, Berlin police maintained a visible presence and continued to ask the public to avoid the area and to hand over any footage that could assist the investigation. The CSD organizers reiterated their plea for people to follow official guidance, and the city’s emergency services said updates would follow when reliable information was available.
