Berlin Pride van attack – police name 21-year old suspect Abdul B with alleged ties to ‘Islamist scene’
Berlin Police have released an image of suspect Abdul B (Image: Berlin Police)
German authorities have issued a wanted notice for a 21-year-old suspect after a van rammed people near Berlin’s Christopher Street Day (CSD) Pride celebrations, killing one woman and injuring at least 16 others. The notice warns the public to avoid “direct contact” with the suspect because he may be armed and dangerous.
Police and prosecutors identified the suspect as Abdul B. Police said he is believed to have injured several people with a moving vehicle late on Saturday evening, and that “one or more people are believed to have subsequently fled the vehicle,” in a police statement. The same statement added: “Furthermore, several people are reported to have been injured with stabbing weapons.”
Police spokesperson Florian Nath said: “The suspect is known to police. He is known to us as a member of Islamic circles here in Berlin, and our search for this person is proceeding at full speed,” adding that investigators had no information on “his specific motives.”
The Pride event next to the Brandenburg Gate was called off around 10:15 p.m., and a band’s performance on stage was interrupted.
What police say happened
Police said a white van drove into the Tiergarten park around 10 p.m., hit several people, then collided with a tree. Berlin’s fire service said three people sustained life-threatening injuries, eight were seriously injured and five had slight injuries. Other reports have claimed that one person died in the attack.
The closing party for CSD was taking place nearby after a parade earlier in the day featuring some 80 trucks. In the early hours of Sunday, police searched an apartment in Berlin’s Schöneberg district but found no one there.
Julian Miethig, who had attended the festival nearby, said: “It’s a dark day for the community.”
Berlin CSD and the ongoing manhunt
CSD is the name used for Pride events across German-speaking countries, referencing New York’s Christopher Street and the Stonewall uprising. Berlin CSD is among Europe’s largest Pride celebrations, combining a parade with political messaging, community groups and corporate participation.
Police have appealed for public help to locate the suspect as the manhunt continues, following the incident that led to the celebrations being halted.
