German police have launched a manhunt after a driver ploughed into a crowd at a Pride event killing at least one person and injuring 16 others.
Berlin detectives have named the suspect as 21-year-old Abdul B, who was described as having ties to Islamist groups.
Vehicle used as weapon
He is alleged to have injured several people in the Tiergarten area during Christopher Street Day, which is one of the biggest LGBTQ+ parades in Europe.
A white minivan was driven into the crowd at the Berlin Pride event on Saturday at about 10pm local time. Several people are also believed to have been stabbed.
One person was killed and at least another 16 were injured in the attack, police have said.
The vehicle was found abandoned in Tiergarten after appearing to have crashed into a tree.
Vehicle rammings targeting crowds have struck North American cities before, including the 2018 Toronto van attack and the 2021 London, Ontario truck attack.
An extensive manhunt has been launched across the German capital and detectives have asked witnesses to send in photographs or videos that may help with the search.
Thousands of officers, as well as helicopters and thermal imaging cameras, have been deployed.
Police spokesman Florian Nath said on Saturday: "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."
He added that "we still have no information whatsoever regarding his specific motives, the exact sequence of events, or his role in the crime itself".
Leaders condemn attack
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the incident as a "despicable act".
He wrote on X: "Hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world were celebrating peacefully at Christopher Street Day.
"They wanted us to treat one another with kindness and tolerance. This is an attack on our society."
Berlin's mayor Kai Wegner said "it is an attack on our free and open society".
He added that the Christopher Street Day Pride event was attacked in the "most brutal way".
"Berlin is the city of freedom - and our freedom has been attacked in the most horrific way today," he said.
"My thoughts are with the victims, their families and friends."
Canadian officials have not yet commented, but the attack raises familiar security concerns for Pride organizers across Canada.