Berlin police have identified one person suspected of involvement in the incident. That individual is currently at large and, according to police, is affiliated with Islamic groups in Berlin.
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One person was killed and at least 16 others were injured when a van drove into participants at the famous Pride Festival held in Berlin, the capital of Germany, on Saturday night. Following the incident, police immediately suspended the festival and its associated musical program.
Berlin police stated that one person has been identified as a suspect in the incident. That individual is currently at large and is reportedly affiliated with Islamic groups in Berlin, according to police.
According to police spokesperson Florian Nath, the suspect was already under police surveillance. "We have information that the individual is affiliated with Islamic groups in Berlin, and the search for him is underway at full speed," he said.
However, Nath said that there is still no clear information regarding the motive, the actual sequence of events, or the suspect's direct involvement.
Earlier, police had reported that the condition of some of the injured was serious. Through social media platform X, police had urged the public to immediately vacate the scene. Ambulances and fire engines were deployed to the site.
According to police, at around 10 p.m., a white van entered Tiergarten Park near the route of the Pride rally and struck members of the public. The van then crashed into a tree.
Police have not disclosed how many officers were deployed at the scene. However, they stated that "a large number of police were deployed."
For the security of the Pride rally and other LGBTQ+ events, more than 2,200 police officers had been deployed in Berlin since Saturday morning.
Throughout the night, police took statements from eyewitnesses at the scene. An investigation is also underway into claims that some victims showed signs of having been attacked with sharp weapons during the incident.
However, police have stated that it is too soon to draw any conclusions about that.
