Following the fatal incident at the Berlin Christopher Street Day (CSD), politicians across Germany and beyond reacted with shock and condemnation.
In an initial statement, Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) described the event as a “horrific act.” He noted that hundreds of thousands of people gathered peacefully to celebrate the CSD, asserting that “they wanted us to treat each other well and with tolerance. This is an attack on our society.” Merz pledged a swift investigation, emphasizing, “We are open and freedom-loving – and we will maintain and defend that. The act will be investigated and prosecuted with all severity.”
Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) commented on the incident during the night, stating that “this cowardly, atrocious attack on people celebrating peacefully deeply shakes me.” He added that they would strive to quickly investigate and punish the “terrible crime and its background.” Dobrindt is expected to visit the crime scene later in the day to assess the situation.
Meanwhile, CSU leader Markus Söder referred to the event as a “cowardly attack” on the Berlin CSD. “It is staggering that people celebrating peacefully were attacked, injured, and even taken from their lives,” he wrote on X. “We will act decisively to protect our freedom. We will not submit to terror. We hope the perpetrator will be found quickly.”
NRW Minister-President Hendrik Wüst (CDU) called the attack an “atrocious assault on our freedom,” while CSU state group leader Alexander Hoffmann openly labeled it a “terror attack,” described as “an attack on free life in Germany as a whole.” He insisted that “terrorist activities, regardless of their direction, must be combatted with maximum severity.”
The head of the German Left Party, Ines Schwerdtner, also expressed deep distress. Speaking to the “Rheinische Post”, she said, “This terrible terror attack deeply saddens me. On a day when we dance together and celebrate freedom, this is an attack on all of us. On everyone who advocates for equal rights and a self-determined life. We must all stand together.” She concluded by wishing strength to all affected individuals.
Reactions also came from the European Union. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated, “The CSD stands for freedom, dignity, and equality-the fundamental values of the EU.” She urged that everyone should be able to live, love, and assert their rights without fear: “Hatred and violence have no place in our societies. We stand shoulder to shoulder with the LGBTQI+ community.”
Investigators in Berlin currently suspect the perpetrator was an adherent of the “Islamic State” terrorist militia. Whether the Federal Prosecutor General will take over the investigation remains unclear, although he is reported to have already contacted local authorities. A search for the suspected perpetrator is now underway across Europe. According to “Focus Online”, the BKA has reportedly called upon authorities in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, and Austria for assistance.
The 21-year-old suspect, Abdul B., is believed to have driven a small truck into the Tiergarten in Berlin around 10 p.m. on Saturday, where CSD participants were celebrating. He subsequently crashed into a tree and fled. It is still uncertain if he had accomplices; authorities are currently stating that “one or more persons” left the vehicle. Furthermore, several people were reportedly injured by “stabbing tools.”
The event was called off after the attack. However, for over an hour, what had occurred was kept largely undisclosed to the public, likely to prevent panic. According to the latest reports, one woman was killed and 16 others were injured during the attack on Saturday evening.
