A known Islamist suspected of driving a minivan into a crowd near a major LGBTQ Pride gathering in Berlin was shot dead during a police operation at an allotment garden complex, broadcaster RBB reported on Sunday.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told broadcaster ZDF that a shot was fired and a person died, but there was not yet confirmation that it involved the suspect.
Berlin police had identified the suspect as Abdul B, 21, and published his picture, asking the public for information on his whereabouts.
The suspect had "attracted attention in the past through a high number of criminal offences, through radicalisation, through membership of the Islamist scene", Dobrindt said earlier.
The incident happened shortly before 10pm local time on Saturday (25 July) in the Tiergarten, a large park near the Brandenburg Gate, just hours after hundreds of thousands of people had gathered for one of Europe's biggest LGBTQ+ events.
Police said the white vehicle, believed to be either a van or a minibus, left the road, struck multiple pedestrians on a path through the park and eventually came to a halt after crashing into a tree.
When officers reached the scene, the vehicle was empty.
Emergency services rushed to the scene, where paramedics treated victims before transporting them to hospitals across the city.
Berlin Fire Department spokesperson Dominik Pretz said one person had died, while 17 others were injured. Eight people suffered serious injuries, including three who remain in a life-threatening condition.
A temporary helicopter landing site was established near the Reichstag parliament building to speed up the transfer of the most seriously injured patients.
The attack brought an abrupt end to what had been a peaceful day of celebration in the German capital.
Christopher Street Day, Germany's equivalent of Pride, commemorates the 1969 Stonewall uprising in New York and has become one of the country's largest annual demonstrations for LGBTQ+ equality and inclusion.
More than 80 floats and dozens of walking groups had travelled through central Berlin before the event concluded with a rally near the Brandenburg Gate.
This year's parade was held under the slogan "Taking a stand is hot", with organisers saying it reflected growing hostility towards LGBTQ+ people in Germany.
Julian Methig, who attended the event, described the shock felt by those present.
"It's one of the worst days for the queer community and a day I personally hoped I'd never have to experience... I'm shocked."
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the government would ensure those responsible were brought to justice.
He said he and Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt would "push to make sure this horrific act is fully investigated and punished".
Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner described the incident as an assault on the city's values.
"Following a peaceful and colourful CSD, the rally for a tolerant and peaceful Berlin was attacked in the most brutal manner," he wrote on X.
"Berlin is the city of freedom – and our freedom has today been attacked in the most appalling way. My thoughts are with the victims, their families and friends."
The incident comes against the backdrop of a series of deadly vehicle attacks across Germany in recent years.
Earlier this year, two people were killed after a car was driven into a pedestrian area in Leipzig. In 2025, another vehicle attack in Mannheim claimed two lives, while a separate incident in Munich left two people dead and more than 40 injured.
In December 2024, several people were also killed when a vehicle was driven into a Christmas market in Magdeburg.
Saturday's attack is likely to intensify concerns over public safety at major events, particularly as authorities continue to investigate whether it was an act of terrorism.
Police said the investigation remains ongoing and urged anyone with information about the suspect to come forward.
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